Celebrating the Mass

A Pastoral Introduction

i
Published 2005, by the Catholic Truth Society and Colloquium (CaTEW) Ltd.
The Catholic Truth Society, 40-46 Harleyford Road, Vauxhall, London SE11 5AY;
www.cts-online.org.uk
Colloquium (CaTEW) Ltd, 39 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1BX.
www.catholicchurch.org.uk Catholic Bishops’ Conference
Copyright © 2005 Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. of England & Wales
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored or
transmitted by any means or in any form, electronic, mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without
prior written permission from the publishers.

ISBN 1 86082 290 8

Celebrating the Mass

A Pastoral Introduction

April 2005

The Liturgy Office of the Bishops’ Conference Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales
The Liturgy Office works with the Bishops’ Conference Department of Christian Life
and Worship to provide resources to support worthy celebration of the Liturgy. It
seeks to promote the full, conscious and active participation of all the baptised in
the Liturgy so that they might find there the nourishment and inspiration necessary
to sustain them in their Christian lives and witness.
CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY
Website: www.liturgyoffice.org.uk PUBLISHERS TO THE HOLY SEE
Foreword
Taking part in the Mass is the hallmark that is central and crucial
to our Catholic identity.

Celebrating the Mass is a pastoral guide pre p a red by the Bishops

of England and Wales. It is intended to assist everyone, clergy
and lay faithful alike, in their understanding of the Mass, and to
serve as a companion and guide to a greater appreciation and
implementation of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.

The Mass is the ultimate act of worship. By our communion with

the Risen Christ, we become one with him in his giving of himself
to the Father... ‘Through him, with him and in him, in the unity
of the Holy Spirit’, the Church becomes ‘an everlasting gift’ to the
Father, ‘a living sacrifice of praise’ (One Bread One Body, 34).

In Pope John Paul’s Apostolic Letter, Spiritus et Sponsa, which

marked the fortieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s
Constitution on the Liturgy, he invites the whole Church to
examine its conscience with regard to the place of the Liturgy
in life of the Church. And in doing so to develop something of
our inner disposition as well as discover the importance of our
outward observance.

Celebrating the Mass will be of great assistance to both

communities and individuals as we seek to respond to the
challenge, always with us, of seeking how to celebrate the Mass
more faithfully, reverently and fruitfully.

Rt. Rev. Arthur Roche

Bishop of Leeds
Chairman of the Department for Christian Life and Worship

v
 Contents

Contents CHAPTER 2 The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols . .21

Pg Gesture and Posture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
An Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Posture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Other Postures and Gestures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
An Apparent Tension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
The Central Mystery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Sacred Scripture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Gathered For Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Homily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Mature Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Presidential Prayers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Meaningful Interconnection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Dialogues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Agents of Transformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Common Texts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Sung Texts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Part One Invitations and Introductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
The Celebration of Mass Private Prayers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
The Celebration of Mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Silence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Materials and Objects required for the Celebration of Mass . . . . . . . . . . 33
CHAPTER 1 The Assembly and its Ministers . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Principal Liturgical Furnishings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Altar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Ambo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Liturgical Ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Ordained Ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Other Liturgical Furnishings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Bishop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Tabernacle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Priest Celebrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Cross and other Sacred Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Concelebrating Priests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Cross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Deacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Other Sacred Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Instituted Acolytes and Lectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Other Materials and Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Bread and Wine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Ministers of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Eucharistic Vessels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Extraordinary (Commissioned) Ministers of Holy Communion . . . . .18 Other Vessels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Servers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Vesture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Ushers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Colours of Vestments for Ordained Ministers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Sacristan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Altar Linen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Ministers responsible for preparation of place of worship . . . . . . . .20 Candles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Director of Liturgy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Paschal Candle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Incense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Adorning the Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Flowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Banners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Liturgical Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Participation Aids for Congregational Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

vi vii
 Celebrating the Mass Contents

CHAPTER 3 Adaptation of the Liturgy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Eucharistic Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Dialogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Application of the principle of ‘progressive solemnity’ . . . . . . . . . . .49 Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Celebrating the Seasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Sanctus Acclamation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
Celebrating Weekdays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Epiclesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
Celebrating with particular groups and circumstances . . . . . . . . . . .51 Institution Narrative and Consecration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Memorial Acclamation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Part Two Anamnesis and Offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
The Order of Mass Intercessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Doxology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
CHAPTER 4 Introductory Rites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Entrance Procession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 CHAPTER 7 Communion Rite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Greeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 The Lord’s Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Penitential Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 The Rite of Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Kyrie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Breaking of the Bread (Fraction) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling of Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Communion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Gloria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Private Preparation of the Priest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Other Opening Rites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Invitation to Communion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Collect (Opening Prayer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Distribution of Communion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Blessings and Spiritual Communion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
CHAPTER 5 Liturgy of the Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Communion Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Biblical Readings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Purification of Eucharistic Vessels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Responsorial Psalm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Period of Silence or Song of Praise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Prayer after Communion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Gospel Acclamation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Gospel Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 CHAPTER 8 Concluding Rite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Homily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Profession of Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Dismissal of Commissioned Ministers taking
The Prayer of the Faithful . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Communion to the Housebound or Sick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Greeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
CHAPTER 6 Liturgy of the Eucharist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 Blessing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Preparation of the Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Dismissal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
Preparation of the Altar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Presentation of the Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
Placing of the Offerings on the Altar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Mixing of Wine and Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 Endnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
Incense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Washing of Hands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Prayer over the Offerings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

viii ix
 1

An Introduction
1 At the heart of the life of the Catholic Church has always been
the celebration of the Eucharist, or the Mass, as Catholics often call
it. Taking part in the Mass is the hallmark of the Catholic, central
and crucial to our Catholic identity. The first Christians devoted
themselves to the teaching of the apostles, to their ‘communion’
with each other and to prayer, and met together in their homes for
‘the Breaking of Bread’. Over the centuries, Catholics in many
countries have risked their lives in order to celebrate Mass in times
of persecution. Their courageous faith remains an inspiration and
example to the Catholic community today. For Catholics now, as
in the past, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the whole
Christian life. It is the vital centre of all that the Church is and does,
because at its heart is the real presence of the crucified, risen and
glorified Lord, continuing and making available his saving work
among us. The Second Vatican Council reminded us: ‘the most
holy Eucharist holds within itself the whole spiritual treasure of the
Church, namely Christ himself, our Passover and our living bread’.1

An Apparent Tension
2 Yet for an increasing number of Roman Catholics today
there appears to be a certain discontinuity between everyday
experience and the Sunday Mass. For many a discernible gulf
has opened up between the spiritual journey of the individual
and the communal, liturgical acts of worship.

3 It seems both appropriate and necessary, therefore, for all

those with particular responsibility for the celebration of the
Church’s liturgy to reflect on the relationship between personal
spirituality and the liturgical life of the Church, particularly at
this moment when the liturgical texts are being revised. This
publication is intended to stimulate this reflection.

The Central Mystery

4 At the heart of Christian experience is the life, death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. While located in a particular time
and place, these universal, foundational events overflow into
every aspect of human life-changing and transforming.
2 Celebrating the Mass
5 The spiritual journey of the individual Catholic, therefore, is
both focussed and informed by the great Christian story with the
joys and challenges of life being intentionally brought into
dialogue with the Gospel. Clearly this is more than an
intellectual exercise for, through the hidden life of prayer, a
loving, personal relationship between the believer and their
Lord is fostered and developed.
6 The Liturgy focuses in particular on the Paschal Mystery of
Christ’s passion, death and resurrection, whereby “dying he
destroyed our death and, rising, he restored our life:”2. However, we
do not neglect the other events of Christ’s life. Jesus’ self-offering to
the Father was expressed in every word and action of his earlier life.
During our celebration of the Eucharist the primary focus of
attention is, quite rightly, on the few final momentous days of Jesus’
life on earth. But we must always be aware that the offering of his
life to the Father had already been expressed in every word and
action of his earlier life. The Last Supper, Calvary and the
Resurrection experiences are the culmination of all that went before.
7 In every aspect of daily life, the baptised, Catholic, Christian
is called to model him or herself on Christ whose life of joyful
service was clothed in humility and rooted in prayer.
Gathered For Worship
8 Such an intimate personal connection to the Risen Christ
implies a close relationship to others who follow Him and this
is expressed in the building of faith communities within the
universal Church. Through the public Celebration of the
Eucharist these communities are formed and nurtured. For, as
we gather around the ‘table of the Lord’ the reality of our
common life is recognised and demonstrated.
9 The General Instruction of the Roman Missal properly
describes how Mass is to be celebrated in the Roman Rite.
Celebrating the Mass has a broader catechetical and formational
aim, inviting worshippers to deepen their understanding of why
we celebrate Mass as we do. Deepening our understanding of
why we do something, is often of great assistance to us as we
seek to do things well.
An Introduction 3
10 It hardly needs saying but the way in which we celebrate
the Eucharist together is clearly of vital importance to the
building up of the local Church.
Mature Participation
11 Responsibility for the quality of Catholic liturgical life does
not lie with priests alone. The fullness of all that the Eucharist
can be implies the wholehearted engagement of everyone
involved. At its best, the liturgy gives expression to the loving
commitment of every baptised person in relationship to Christ.
12 That ‘the People of God’ will be able to make adequate
meaningful connection between everyday life and participation
in the Eucharist cannot be simply assumed. Recognising in the
ebb and flow of liturgical expression a gathering and
transformation of the rich tapestry of personal experience is an
on-going challenge and invitation.
13 The necessity for ongoing liturgical catechesis of all
members of the assembly is, therefore, self-evident. In these
changing times it is not only children who need to be educated
into a mature understanding of the liturgy.
Meaningful Interconnection
14 For this essential communal act to be truly authentic it
must give expression to the common life of the gathered
community; the implication being that there is a common life
to draw upon. The idea of strangers gathering for Eucharist,
and remaining strangers there a f t e r, does not sit easily with
the Gospel message.
15 God draws people together from every race and
background, and each individual brings with them an amazing
richness of personal experience - something which needs to be
shared and expressed. While this can rarely take place in the
Liturgy itself other opportunities should exist within the life of
the local Church community. The sharing of ‘good news’ in
small groups, for example, will inevitably flow back into the
wider Church.
4 Celebrating the Mass

Agents of Transformation
16 Active participation in the Eucharist is a transforming
experience. In our prayers, and that of the whole Church, we
seek the transformation not only of the bread and wine into the
Body and Blood of Christ, but that the same Spirit transforms us
also into the Body of Christ. But it does not end here...

17 Authentic Catholic spirituality is centred on communal

celebration of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ so that we may Part One
go out into the world to live that mystery, re f reshed and re s t o re d
as agents of God’s love. The Christian is called into a broken
world to witness to and work for the coming of the Kingdom of
God. The Eucharist must feed those who celebrate: for their
work in the healing of relationships, in the promotion of peace
and justice, and in the proclamation of the Good News.

The Celebration of Mass

6 Celebrating the Mass
The Celebration of Mass
18 In celebrating the Eucharist, the people of God assemble as
the body of Christ to fulfil the Lord’s command to “do this in
memory of me” (Luke 22:19). In this most sacred action of Christ
and the Church, the memorial of his death and resurrection is
celebrated, God is adored in spirit and in truth, the Church
identifies itself with the saving Sacrifice of its Lord and,
nourished by his Body and Blood, looks forward in joyful hope
to sharing in the supper of the Lamb in the heavenly kingdom.3
19 At the Last Supper the Lord spoke to his disciples, took bread
and wine, gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave them the
Bread of life and the Cup of eternal salvation. After his
resurrection from the dead, two disciples recognised his presence
in these same actions: speaking, taking bread, giving thanks,
b reaking and sharing (see Luke 24:13-35). In the Eucharist the
C h u rch to this day makes Christ’s memorial and celebrates his
p resence in the same sequence of actions: in the Liturgy of the
Word the assembly listens with hearts burning as the Lord speaks
to it again and it responds with words of praise and petition; in
the Liturgy of the Eucharist it takes bread and wine, gives thanks,
b reaks the bread, and receives the Body and Blood of Christ.4
20 These two principal parts of the Mass are so closely connected
as to form one single act of worship: the tables of God’s word and
of Christ’s body are prepared, and from them the faithful are
instructed and nourished; the spoken word of God announces the
history of salvation, the Eucharist embodies it in the sacramental
signs of the liturgy. In addition to these two principal parts, there
a re also the Introductory Rites, which prepare the people for word
and Eucharist, and the Concluding Rites, which brings the people’s
worship to a close and sends them out to witness and service.5
21 The celebration of Mass is the action of Christ and the Church,
which is “the Sacrament of unity”, namely the holy people of God
united and ordered under the Bishop. It is the action in which the
Christian people, ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people set apart’, expresses its unity and its nature. It is the
action of the whole people of God, ministers and congregation,
united with Christ, who is head of the Body.6
The Celebration of the Mass 7
Within the one body of Christ there are many gifts and
responsibilities. But just as each organ and limb is necessary for
the sound functioning of the body (see 1 Corinthians 12), so
every member of the assembly has a part to play in the action
of the whole. It is therefore of the greatest importance that in all
circumstances and on every occasion the celebration be so
organised that priest, ministers, and faithful may all take their
own part. The participation of all is demanded by the nature of
the liturgy, and, for the faithful, is their right and duty by reason
of their baptism.7
• By apostolic tradition, the Church gathers on the Lord’s Day
to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. This Sunday Eucharist, at
which the entire local community assembles and in which
all play their proper parts, is the primary manifestation of
the local Church and, as such, the most important and
normative form of Eucharistic celebration.8 It should be in
every sense inclusive and not be needlessly multiplied.
(Although more than one mass will often be celebrated in a
parish on a Sunday a balance needs to be kept between
what is convenient, and what helps the Church to become
an authentic community of faith and mission and celebrate
the Liturgy fully, richly and reverently.) The celebration of
other Sacraments, when the Roman Ritual allows, may be
accommodated within it.
• In the celebration of the Eucharist, all present, ordained or lay
faithful, render the particular service corresponding to their
role and function in the assembly.9 A celebration is the work
of the whole body of Christ; the ministers and other members
of the assembly have a part in the action and have a
contribution to make. Each of these special services is
perf o rmed for the good of the whole and for the glory of God.
 9

Chapter 1
The Assembly and its Ministers
Assembly
22 Christ is always present in the Church, particularly in its
l i t u rgical celebrations. In the celebration of Mass, which is a
memorial of the Sacrifice of the cross, Christ is really present
first of all in the assembly itself: “Where two or three come
together in my name, there am I in their midst” (Matthew
18:20).10 At Mass “the faithful form a holy people, a people
whom God has made his own, a royal priesthood, so that
they may give thanks to God and offer the spotless Victim
not only through the hands of the priest but also together
with him, and so that they may learn to offer themselves.11
They should, more o v e r, endeavour to make this clear by their
deep religious sense and their charity toward brothers and
sisters who participate with them in the same celebration.”12

23 The liturgical assembly is never a random group of

individuals but the gathering of God’s people to exercise its
royal priesthood in the sacrifice of praise. Everything in the
celebration is organised to encourage and foster an awareness
of this assembly’s common dignity and purpose, mutual
interdependence, and connectedness with the wider Church.

24 The Church earnestly desires that all the faithful be led to

that full, conscious, and active participation in liturg i c a l
celebrations called for by the very nature of the liturgy. Such
participation by the Christian people as ‘a chosen race, a ro y a l
priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people’ (1 Peter 2:9; see
2:45) is their right and duty by reason of their baptism.13

• In the celebration of the Eucharist the assembly is united in and

by the principal actions of gathering, listening to God’s word,
praying for the life of the Church and the world, giving thanks,
sharing communion and being sent out for the work of loving
and serving God.
10 Celebrating the Mass
• Times for silent reflection allow the assembly to engage
more deeply in the mystery being celebrated.14
• The dialogues between the assembly and its ministers, and
the acclamations have a special value as signs of communal
action and as means of effective communication. More
importantly yet they foster and bring about communion
between priest and people.15
• Singing is one of the most potent of all expressions of
communal awareness and common purpose.16
• Uniformity in posture and gesture likewise expresses and
fosters a unity of spirit and purpose.17
Liturgical Ministry
25 All members of the assembly contribute to the Eucharistic
Celebration in ways appropriate to their particular order or
liturgical function.18
26 Part of the pastoral responsibility given by the Bishop to
the Parish priest is to ensure that the liturgy is celebrated
authentically with due regard to liturgical law and the needs
of the people. Parish priests should take care to promote the
full and active participation by all the people, for the liturg y
is the primary and indispensable source from which the
faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit.19 Theirs
especially is the responsibility for the formation of the
assembly for its part in the liturgy and for the formation of
particular ministers.20
27 The faithful should not refuse to serve the people of God
gladly whenever asked to perform some particular ministry or
role in the celebration.21 Women and men, the young and old,
people of every race and way of life should avail of these
opportunities so that the liturgy may be seen to be the work of
the whole body of Christ.
The Assembly and its Ministers 11
28 By doing all and only those parts that belong to them,
the ministers and other members of the assembly contribute
to the participation of all and show the Church as the body
of Christ, actively engaged in worship of the living God with
the help of various orders and ministries.22 Through the
variety of liturgical ministries in the Church, the body of
Christ is built up.
29 All who exercise a liturgical ministry within the assembly
need proper preparation for their responsibilities. They are to
have the competence to perform the particular ministry with
which they have been entrusted.
30 The formation of liturgical ministers is both spiritual and
technical. Although this formation varies in extent and depth
depending upon the nature of the particular ministry, it will
normally have liturgical, biblical, and technical components.
• T h rough liturgical formation ministers acquire an
understanding of the Mass as a whole, with particular
emphasis on the parts of the Mass for which they have
specific responsibility. They should especially learn the
intimate connection between the two principal parts of the
Mass, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
• Through biblical formation they are helped to understand
the cycle of Scripture readings and to perceive the revealed
message of the Scriptures by the light of faith.
• Through training in the particular skills of their ministry,
they learn to make the best use of their personal gifts and
strengths in order to communicate the person and
message of Christ by the reverent use of word, gesture,
or movement.
31 The words and actions of the liturgy give verbal and bodily
expression to the profound realities of God’s gracious activity
and the people’s attitude in response to God. Equal care is
therefore to be given by liturgical ministers to the verbal and
physical elements of the liturgy.
12 Celebrating the Mass
• When speaking or singing, ministers use a natural, audible
and clear voice, appropriate to the text and strive for a
measured delivery.
• By reverent posture and through graceful gesture and
movement, ministers reinforce the words of the liturgy and
help to elicit the response of the assembly.
• When not performing particular duties, liturgical ministers
join with the rest of the assembly in their actions and
responses. At these times all ministers listen, respond, and
sing with the other members of the assembly and so
continue to contribute to the worship of the whole body.
32 Regular opportunities should be made available for
liturgical ministers to pray together and be renewed in their
ministry. These occasions may provide for their continuing
spiritual formation and for the improvement of their ‘technical’
abilities to assist the assembly in its worship.
Ordained Ministry
33 In the celebration of the Eucharist, Christ is present in the
person of the presiding priest, ordained for this ministry. Every
authentic celebration of the Eucharist is presided over by the
Bishop or a priest, presiding in the person of Christ.23
Bishop
34 The Bishop placed in charge of a diocese exercises pastoral
g o v e rnment over the portion of the people of God entrusted to his
care; he is the visible principle and foundation of unity in this local
Church.24 Among the principal offices of Bishops is the preaching of
the Gospel through the word and the ministry of the Sacraments.
Every lawful celebration of the Eucharist is regulated by the Bishop.25
35 Priests take part in the Bishop’s priesthood and mission. As
proven co-workers with the order of Bishops, called to serve the
people of God, they form one presbyterate in union with their
Bishop, charged with their particular duties.26
The Assembly and its Ministers 13
Priest Celebrant
36 When a priest presides at the celebration of the Liturgy he
leads the people in prayer, in listening and responding to God’s
word, and in offering the Sacrifice through Christ in the Spirit to
the Father. He proclaims the message of salvation in preaching
and gives the Bread of eternal life and the Cup of salvation.27
37 By the depth of the priest’s prayerfulness and the dignity and
humility of his bearing, the people should be able to recognise the
living presence of Christ, who spoke with authority but who came
to serve, not to be served. The priest is to be conscious that he
presides over the assembly in the name of Christ and of the ritual
f o rms by which he gives proper expression to his leadership.28
At his Ordination the priest promises to celebrate the
mysteries of Christ faithfully and religiously as the Church has
handed them down to us for the glory of God and the
sanctification of Christ’s people, and to exercise the ministry of
the word worthily and wisely, preaching the Gospel and
explaining the Catholic faith.29 “Priests should go to the trouble
of properly cultivating their liturgical knowledge and ability, so
that through their liturgical ministry, God the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit will be praised in an ever more excellent manner by
the Christian communities entrusted to them.”30
• Through his liturgical presidency, the priest encourages the
participation of others and coordinates them into one
harmonious action. Rather than appropriating the functions
of others, he is responsible for seeing that everything is
done well.31
• The priest leads people in prayer and exercises his
responsibility chiefly in the proclamation of the
presidential prayers: the Collect (Opening Prayer), the
Prayer over the Offerings, the Prayer after Communion,
and, supremely, the Eucharistic Prayer. Presiding in the
person of Christ, he addresses these prayers to God in
the name not only of the assembly but of the entire
people of God.32
14 Celebrating the Mass
• In some circumstances the priest may also facilitate the
conscious participation of the assembly by brief and
helpful comments and introductions, for example, at the
beginning of the celebration, before the readings and the
Eucharistic Prayer, or at the dismissal. 33
• By tradition the role of proclaiming the readings is
ministerial, not presidential. Therefore, a reader should
proclaim the readings, and a deacon or, in his absence, a
priest other than the celebrant should announce the Gospel.
If, however, a deacon or another priest is not present, the
priest celebrant himself should read the Gospel.34
• The Homily is ordinarily given by the presiding priest.
P reaching is an integral part of the liturgy, and
obligatory when the community gathers for its
celebration of the Euchariston Sundays and holydays.35
Concelebrating Priests
38 Concelebration appropriately expresses the unity of the
priesthood, of the Sacrifice and also of the whole people of
God.36 According to circumstances a concelebrating priest may:
• proclaim the Gospel;
• give the Homily;
• pray the intercessions of the Eucharistic Prayer;
• assist in the Breaking of Bread;
• distribute Communion (only when there are insufficient
ordinary ministers, i.e. bishops priest and deacons,
should commissioned ministers assist in the distribution
of Communion).
The Assembly and its Ministers 15
Deacon
39 The deacon, whose order has been held in high honour
since the earliest years of the Church, has a principal role
among the other ministers of the assembly. The deacon is
ordained for service in communion with the Bishop and the
college of presbyters. The deacon’s service for the people of
God is the diakonia of liturgy, word, and charity.37
The deacon’s principal functions at Mass are:
• In the Liturgy of the Word to proclaim the Gospel reading. On
occasion he may be invited to deliver the Homily and he also
ordinarily announces the intentions in the general intercessions.38
• As servant of the assembly and its worship, the deacon assists
the priest at the chair and at the altar. He is also called to give
certain directions and invitations to the assembly, especially
regarding movement or posture.39 When incense is used, the
deacon assists with its preparation and where indicated may
incense the priest, the people, and the Book of the Gospels.
• In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, to assist in the distribution of
Communion to the people, especially as minister of the
chalice. In this connection, he, for example, also prepares
the table, assists the priest in receiving the gifts, prepares
the chalice, elevates the chalice at the doxology, and may
assist with the Breaking of the Bread before Communion.40
Instituted Acolytes and Lectors
40 The instituted ministries of acolyte and lector were
introduced in the re f o rms after Vatican II as a development
replacing the former minor orders.41 The discipline of the
Church is that only men may be admitted to these ministries.
It is required that those preparing for Ordination be
instituted to these ministries. It is rare that there are in
parishes men formally instituted to these lay ministries. In
parishes where there are men instituted to these ministries
they should be encouraged to exercise them in collaboration
with other lay ministers.
16 Celebrating the Mass
Reader
41 In proclaiming the word of God from Sacred Scripture,
readers exercise their responsibility in mediating the presence of
Christ. God speaks to the assembly through them, and the
impact of God’s message will depend significantly on their
conviction, their preparation, and their delivery.42
42 The richness in the quantity and in the variety of
readings in the Lectionary challenges those who are called
upon to proclaim the Scriptures at Mass. Each of the
individual sacred authors reflected on the meaning of God’s
action in history from their own perspective. They employed
various literary forms to convey the message of salvation,
ranging, for example, from narratives and the poetry of the
psalms to prophetic oracles and parables, from theological
expositions to apocalyptic visions. A reader will proclaim the
word of the Lord more fully and more effectively if he or she
has an awareness of the literary form of a particular re a d i n g
or psalm.
• Both to assist the assembly to appreciate the genre and context
of the different passages of Scripture and benefit from a different
voice, it is better to have a different reader for each reading.43
• The responsorial psalm should be sung by a psalmist or
cantor, but, if necessary, may be led by a reader.44
• When there is no deacon, a reader may carry the Book of
the Gospels before the presiding priest in the entrance
procession and lay it on the altar.45
• When there is no deacon, the reader may, from the ambo,
announce the intentions in the General Intercessions.46
Ministers of Music
43 A psalmist, a cantor, an organist, other instrumentalists, a
choir, and a director of music assist the assembly’s full
participation in singing the songs, responses, and
acclamations which are constitutive elements of the liturgy.
The Assembly and its Ministers 17
These ministers of music exercise a liturgical function within
the assembly and by their role help to add beauty and solemnity
to the celebration.47
• The psalmist has the special task of drawing the
assembly into the proclamation of the word of God in
the psalm or other biblical canticle that comes between
the readings by introducing the psalm responses and
Gospel acclamation to the assembly, and by singing the
verses of the responsorial psalm and Gospel Acclamation
verses. 48 The psalmist may also introduce the antiphons
to the assembly and sing the verses of the psalms used.49
The psalmist should have the ability to sing, and an
aptitude for correct pronunciation and diction. 50
• The cantor’s function is to lead and encourage the assembly
in singing. The cantor also introduces and teaches new
music to the people.51 The role of the psalmist and cantor
may be carried out by one person.
• The choir remains at all times a part of the assembly. It can
serve the assembly by leading it in sung prayer and by
re i n f o rcing or enhancing the song of the assembly, for
example, by sharing the singing of the verses or sections
of a hymn or song alternately, by introducing a sung
response or antiphon, or through harmony or other
elaboration. It should never displace, or dominate the
rightful song of the assembly.52 Occasionally it will be
appropriate for the choir alone to sing more elaborate
music, for example, a motet, which can assist the prayerf u l
reflection of the assembly.
• The organ and other instruments have the particular role of
supporting and encouraging the assembly’s participation
through song.53 In addition, in their own right, they can
powerfully assist contemplation and express praise and a
variety of human feelings before God.
18 Celebrating the Mass
• The Director of Music, working collaboratively with other
ministers, has a particular responsibility for helping to select
musical settings which allow for the worthy celebration of
the Liturgy, respecting the different nature of the texts and
actions of the liturgy.54
Extraord i n a ry (Commissioned) Ministers of Holy Communion
44 “Since the Eucharistic Celebration is the Paschal Banquet, it
is desirable that the faithful who are properly disposed receive
the Lord’s Body and Blood as spiritual food as he commanded.”55
45 Bishops, priests and deacons are the ordinary ministers of
Holy Communion. If a large number are to receive Communion,
the ordinary ministers will frequently need assistance in
distributing Communion, so that the Communion rite is not
unduly long. It will regularly be needed when Communion is
given under both kinds, the form of Communion in which the
Eucharistic banquet is more clearly signified.56 This assistance is
given by extraordinary ministers, be these instituted acolytes or
commissioned ministers of Communion, formally commissioned
for a given period or, in case of necessity, deputed by the priest
celebrant for a particular occasion.57
46 These various ministers serve Christ present in the assembly
by ministering his Body and Blood to their brothers and sisters.
They also serve the unity of the worshipping community by
taking Communion to those members who are prevented by
sickness, old age, or other cause from taking part in the gathering
for Mass. In accord with an ancient tradition, it is appropriate for
Communion to be taken directly from the Sunday Eucharist to the
sick and to those unable to leave their homes.
Servers
47 In addition to the service of instituted acolytes, service at
the altar by other ministers represents a long liturgical tradition.
These servers exercise their ministry within the assembly and
enhance the quality of celebration for the whole assembly by
taking part in processions and by ensuring that all requisites for
the celebration are available at the appropriate moments.58
The Assembly and its Ministers 19
• Servers hold the book while the presiding priest proclaims
the presidential prayers with outstretched hands. They
bring and hold such things as books, thuribles, water
jug and towel, plates and dishes, and micro p h o n e s .
They lead the entrance and concluding pro c e s s i o n s
with the cross and candles; they escort the deacon (or
priest) to the ambo and stand at his side while he
p roclaims the Gospel reading. They may, on more
solemn occasions, accompany the procession with the
gifts. They look after the thurible, pre p a re it for the
priest or deacon, and themselves may incense the
assembly and other ministers.
• The number of servers will depend upon the
circumstances and the tasks to be performed. Especially
at large-scale celebrations, there should be a competent
minister or master of ceremonies with responsibility for
ensuring that these various tasks are properly assigned
and carried out.59
Ushers
48 Saint Paul instructed the assembled community to
“welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, to the glory
of God” (Romans 15:7). It will often be appropriate for those
commonly referred to as ushers to exercise this ministry of
welcome by greeting people at the church door, making sure
they are provided with all necessary books, music, and other
items for the celebration, such as candles or palms, and helping
them find their places.60 The people are assembling as table
guests of the Lord to share in a supper as sisters and brothers.
They will appreciate this more readily if they are made welcome
by re p resentatives of the community and acknowledged
informally by their neighbours.
• Especially in larger assemblies, special arrangements are
likely to be necessary so that visitors and those unfamiliar
with the community and its worship may be put at ease and
drawn into the celebration.
20 Celebrating the Mass
• Ushers also help when, at any time during the celebration,
members of the assembly become ill or otherwise
need assistance.
• Ushers may assist with the collection and with processions.
Sacristan
49 The Sacristan has responsibility for the careful arranging of
the liturgical books, the vestments, and other things needed for
the celebration of Mass.61
Ministers responsible for preparation of place of worship
50 It is important that the place where the Church gathers for
worship be kept clean and tidy, fit for its purpose. The church
should be decorated appropriate to the mysteries of salvation
celebrated through the unfolding of the liturgical year. There is
great value in decorating the Church, particularly for Sundays
and other principal Feasts, however decoration should be
carefully considered so that it complements the liturgy, rather
than distracting from it.62
Director of Liturgy
51 The General Instruction and other Church documents
stress the need for every liturgical celebration to be pre p a red
so that it meets the needs of those who participate.63 It is
desirable, there f o re, that in cathedrals and larger churc h e s
there is a person with responsibility for the preparation and
coordination of liturgical celebrations.64 They will work in
collaboration with those in ordained ministry and those who
coordinate the various liturgical ministries including musicians
and servers. They may be assisted by a liturgy group. Indeed
in many communities such a group will take on the role of
this ministry. The diocesan liturgy commission has a role in
the establishment of good preparation and practice at
diocesan celebrations.
21
Chapter 2
The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols
52 “In the liturgy, by means of signs perceptible to the senses,
human sanctification is signified and brought about in ways
proper to each of these signs.”65 The entire ritual complex of
actions, objects, words, and persons which constitute the
symbolism of the Eucharist is integral to its effectiveness.
53 Bread and wine, breaking and sharing, eating and drinking,
standing, kneeling, bowing, and greeting should not need to be
explained. It is in sharing and experiencing these actions in their
natural integrity and consistency that their spiritual significance and
effect are appropriated. The more clearly and powerfully each of
them signifies, the more directly their effect will be perceived and
experienced. Words clearly proclaimed, actions deliberately and
gracefully performed, elements and objects authentically made and
reverently handled contribute to the integrity of the liturgy and allow
its symbolism to work to greater effect.
Gesture and Posture
54 The active participation of the faithful is first of all internal
in that their thoughts reflect what they hear, do, and say during
the liturgy. It is also external in that through their outward
bearing and gestures they express their inner participation in
the liturgy. The ritual interplay of the internal and external
elements of the liturgy conveys the transcendence and the
immanence of the living God whom the assembly worships.66
55 Since worship engages people fully, in every aspect of their
being, they worship God with their bodies and feelings as well
as their minds and spirits, with their hands and feet as well as
their eyes and ears. The non-verbal elements of the liturgy can
reinforce the spoken word and, at times, express what cannot
be articulated in words. Because of their power, the gestures
and postures of the liturgy deserve as much care as its words.
22 Celebrating the Mass
56 The people are called as members of an organic whole, not
as disparate individuals. A Christian assembly that worships
“with one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32) adopts a common posture
as a sign of its unity. Such common posture both expresses and
fosters the mind and spiritual attitude of those present. It is
through each one’s making this common posture their own that
the faithful manifest themselves as members of one body, with
Christ as their head.67
• Some actions and gestures are performed by the whole
community together, for example, making the Sign of the
Cross, standing to pray, sitting to listen, bowing to show
reverence, moving forward to present and re c e i v e ,
exchanging the sign of peace.
• Other actions are performed by the priest celebrant or
another minister, for example, praying with hands raised
and outstretched, blessing with hands extended over the
people, showing the consecrated elements to the people,
and the Breaking of the Bread.
Posture
57 There is a common understanding of the significance of the
postures of standing, sitting, and kneeling within our culture.
58 We rise to greet people, to honour someone important, to
express readiness for action, or when seized with excitement. In
Christian liturgical tradition, standing is the basic posture of an
Easter people lifted up to greet its risen Lord. The assembly
stands at Mass, for example, during the proclamation of the
Gospel reading.68
59 We kneel as a human gesture of submission. In Christian
tradition, kneeling is an acknowledgement of one’s
creatureliness before God. It can signify penitence for sin,
humility, reverence, and adoration.69
The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols 23
60 We sit to listen, to rest, to watch. At Mass it is appropriate, for
example, to sit during the Homily and at the Preparation of the
Gifts.70 Except in case of infirmity it is not usually an appropriate
p o s t u re for other moments of the liturgy where a more engaged
p o s t u re, such as standing or kneeling is to be preferred.
61 Within the dioceses of England and Wales diff e re n t
communities will have pre f e rence for different posture .
However, within any particular celebration (except in case of
physical infirmity) a uniformity of posture should be observed by
all taking part. Observing this discipline both expresses and
fosters the mind and spiritual attitude of those present.71
Guidance on what is good practice is provided in the General
Instruction to the Roman Missal.72 Pastors will take care to ensure
that the congregation understands the spiritual meaning of the
p o s t u re adopted, and be helped to pray its actions.
Other Postures and Gestures
62 Other gestures employed in the celebration of the Mass
include bowing, kissing, genuflecting, and striking the breast.
Each of these gestures has had a natural significance in human
experience and in Christian liturgical tradition, but this may vary
considerably according to culture and epoch.
63 Bowing may be seen as a natural and gracious sign of
respect, a sign of reverence and honour offered to persons or
to their images. There are two kinds of bows, a bow of the head
and a bow of the body.73
• A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are
named together, and at the name of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, and of the Saint in whose honour Mass is celebrated.
• A bow of the body, or a profound bow, is made: towards
the altar; or while the priest is genuflecting after the
consecration if, for good reason, the congregation is
standing during the Eucharistic Prayer.74
24 Celebrating the Mass
64 Genuflecting was an ancient gesture of fealty, reverence,
and adoration. It is therefore reserved for the Most Blessed
Sacrament, and for the Holy Cross from the solemn veneration
of the Holy Cross during the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion on
Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil. In honour
of the Lord’s Incarnation all genuflect in the recitation of the
Profession of Faith on the Solemnities of the Annunciation of
the Lord and the Nativity of the Lord (see no. 170).
• A genuflection is made by bending the right knee to the ground.75
• Where there is a tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament
in the sanctuary, the priest, the deacon, and the other
ministers genuflect when they approach the altar and leave
the sanctuary, but not during the celebration of Mass itself.
• At other times, all who pass before or come into the
presence of the Most Blessed Sacrament genuflect, unless
they are part of a procession.76
65 Kissing is a more intense sign of reverence and respect. It
is a sign of veneration to the altar and the Book of the Gospels
by ordained ministers. On Good Friday it may be used by all the
faithful for the Veneration of the Cross.
66 Striking the breast is a sign of humility and self-abasement.
It is used by the faithful in the I confess.
67 Sharing the sign of peace. In the sign of peace the faithful
express their ecclesial communion and mutual charity for each
other before receiving sacramental Communion. In the early Church
the peace was exchanged by a kiss, other forms have been used at
different times and places. In England and Wales the customary sign
is a handshake, however, it is important that this is not seen simply
as a greeting but as expressing peace, communion and charity.
• A handclasp may be a more authentic sign than the
customary handshake.77
The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols 25
Words
68 Because the celebration of Mass is a communal activity, the
priest celebrant and all others who have special parts to play
need to give careful thought to the different kinds of verbal
communication with the assembly. Their manner of delivery
will correspond to the nature or genre of the text, the scale and
acoustics of the building, and the form of the celebration.78
Sacred Scripture
69 Pre-eminent among the texts of the Mass are the biblical
readings (see nos. 157-160) with their accompanying
scriptural chants, for even now from the word of God handed
down in writing God speaks to the people, “and it is from the
continued use of Sacred Scripture that the people of God,
docile to the Holy Spirit under the light of faith, receive the
power to be Christ’s living witnesses before the world.”79
70 All must listen with reverence to the readings of God’s
word: meditating on the word, taking it to heart, and beginning
to respond to it in prayer.80
Homily
71 “Although in the readings from Sacred Scripture God’s word
is addressed to all people of every era and is understandable to
them, nevertheless, a fuller understanding and a gre a t e r
effectiveness of the word is fostered by a living commentary on
the word, that is, the Homily, as part of the liturgical action.”81
Presidential Prayers
72 Among the texts assigned to the priest, the Eucharistic
Prayer is pre-eminent; it is the high point of the whole
celebration.82 (see nos. 186-199) Next in importance are the
other presidential prayers: the Collect or opening prayer, the
Prayer over the Offerings, and the Prayer after Communion.
• These prayers are proclaimed by the priest alone, presiding
in the person of Christ. For this reason they are called
the ‘presidential prayers’.83 They are addressed to God in
the name of the entire Church and on behalf of the
whole assembly.
26 Celebrating the Mass
• When the presider calls the assembly to prayer by the
invitation Let us pray, all first observe some moments of
silence in which they place themselves in God’s presence
and make their personal petitions, before the presidential
prayer is offered which gathers together this silent prayer of
the whole assembly.84
• By a most ancient tradition of the We s t e rn Churc h ,
presidential prayers have a trinitarian structure, being
addressed to God (Deus, Pater, Domine) with and through
the Son as mediator, in the unity and power of the Holy
Spirit, who convokes the Church, maintains it in
communion, and empowers it to pray.85
• The assembly makes the presidential prayer its own and
expresses its assent in the acclamation Amen.86
Dialogues
73 The dialogues between the priest and the congregation,
such as the Greeting and Preface Dialogue, and the dialogue
before the Gospel, are of particular importance. They are not
simply outward signs of communal celebration but foster
and bring about communion between priest and people.87
They create that level of active participation to which the
gathered faithful must contribute in every form of the Mass,
so that the action of the entire community may be clearly
expressed and fostere d . 88
Common Texts
74 Some texts belong to the whole assembly and as such are
recited or sung, as appropriate, by the priest and congregation
together. These are, for example, the acclamations (Gospel
Acclamations, Acclamations within the Eucharistic Prayer), the
Profession of Faith, and the Lord’s Prayer.89
Sung Texts
75 Singing is the sign of the heart’s joy. St Augustine says
rightly: ‘Singing is for one who loves.’ There is also the ancient
proverb: ‘One who sings well prays twice.’90
The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols 27
76 G reat importance should be attached to the use of singing
in the celebration of the Mass, with due consideration for the
culture of the people and abilities of each liturgical assembly.
Although it is not always necessary (e.g., in weekday Masses)
to sing all the texts that are of themselves meant to be sung,
every care should be taken that singing by the ministers and
the people is not absent in celebrations that occur on Sundays
and on holy days of obligation.
In the choosing of the parts actually to be sung, however,
preference should be given to those that are of greater
importance and especially to those to be sung by the priest or
the deacon or the lector, with the people responding, or by the
priest and people together.91
77 There are various forms of prayer that by their very nature
or because of their function in the liturgy lend themselves to
being sung. It is important that when sung the settings used are
appropriate to the prayer form and text.
• The psalms used in the liturgy, for example, the responsorial
psalm and others designated in the Simple Gradual, are
songs and poems of praise intended for singing. The
opening and communion antiphons, when used, are also
texts that by their very nature should be sung, along with
appropriate psalm verses.92
• Other texts, for example, the acclamations, before the
Gospel and within the Eucharistic Prayer, together with the
Gloria call for the whole assembly to take them up and with
enthusiasm voice them in song.93
• It is especially appropriate that on Sundays, and other
solemn or festive occasions elements of the liturgy such
as the Eucharistic Prayer or at least its preface should be
sung. The Eucharistic Prayer is the central prayer and
high point of the Mass, when it is sung its importance is
shown and the assembly can be drawn more fully into
28 Celebrating the Mass
the prayer. The singing of this prayer also expresses the
solemn nature of the day or occasion being celebrated.
The other presidential prayers may also be sung.
• The dialogues between priest and faithful at various
points during the Mass of themselves create a level of
active participation. The singing of these texts gives
heightened expression to the ritual nature of this
common action.94
Invitations and Introductions
78 At certain moments in the Mass, indicated in the rubrics
and in this Introduction, the deacon or presiding priest gives
formal invitations to elicit the people’s action, response, or
silent preparation for prayer. In addition the presiding priest
may facilitate the people’s participation by brief and well-
p re p a red comments.95
• All such introductions should be adapted to the different
circumstances and occasions, and the understanding of
those participating.
• Invitations may be expressed in the words provided or in
similar words. They should be brief and well-prepared.
• Invitations intended to be followed immediately by a
response from the people should end with a
recognisable cue.
Private Prayers
79 Some prayers prescribed in the Mass, for example
before the proclamation of the Gospel, at the Preparation of
the Gifts, and at the cleansing of vessels are personal
prayers to the ministers concerned, prayed that they might
exercise their ministry with greater attention and devotion.
Since these prayers are by their nature personal to the
m i n i s t e r, they are to be recited inaudibly. 96 During these
moments of preparatory prayer the lay faithful too are
encouraged to pray silently and in their own way during
these moments of preparation.
The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols 29
Music
80 As an art placed at the service of communal prayer, music is part
of the liturgical action, drawing people together and transforming
them into an assembly of worshippers. For this reason music is
considered integral to worship and serves a ministerial function.97
81 All other things being equal, Gregorian chant, as being proper
to the Roman Liturgy, has pride of place in the musical patrimony
of the Church. It is there f o re desirable that the faithful should
know how to sing together at least some parts of the Ordinary of
the Mass in Latin set to the simpler Gregorian melodies.98
82 However, in every period the Church has admitted other
styles and forms of music, according to the proper genius and
circumstances of peoples, providing they correspond to the
spirit of the liturgical action and that they encourage
participation by all the faithful.99 The same remains true in our
day, and the requirements of the liturgy. The music of our own
day, from every culture and region, should also serve the
assembly and its worship with due reverence and honour.100
83 In choosing music for liturgy, consideration should be given
to the music itself, the text, and the ritual function. Musical
factors include the quality of composition, its ability to express
the tone, content, and form of a text (for example, an
acclamation or a hymn), and the ease with which it can be
remembered and sung. A text may be prescribed (for example,
the Sanctus) or freely chosen (for example, a thanksgiving song
after Communion). Ritually, music may be an accompaniment to
an action (for example, a procession) or a constitutive element
of the rite itself (for example, the memorial acclamation).101
• The primary sources for the texts of liturgical music are
Scripture and the prayers of the liturgy.
• Many forms or types of music are employed in the liturgy
according to the nature of the various components of the
rites, for example, the responsorial form, acclamations,
responses, and hymns.
30 Celebrating the Mass
• Music is provided in the Missal as a model, especially when
singing will be unaccompanied. Composers may create
suitable settings appropriate to our traditions and culture.
Guidance for the composers of settings for liturgical texts,
The Roman Missal - A Guide for Composers, is available on
the Liturgy Office website.102
84 Instrumental music may be employed to lend a particular
tone to the celebration and especially to create an atmosphere
conducive to recollection, stillness, or silent prayer. Many
different instruments may be used to effect. Care should be
taken that instrumental music does not distract from the spoken
text or liturgical action.103
85 Music is integral to every liturgical celebration. Not every
liturgy, however, is celebrated with the same degree of
solemnity. Sundays and Solemnities enjoy pride of place and
demand greater preparation. Other celebrations are planned in
the light of the community’s needs and resources.
86 During Advent musical instruments should be played with a
moderation that is in keeping with the spirit of joyful
expectation characteristic of this season, but does not anticipate
the fullness of joy belonging to the celebration of the Nativity of
the Lord.104
87 From Ash Wednesday until the singing of the Gloria at the
Easter Vigil, the organ and other instruments should be played only
to support the singing. An exception is made for Laetare Sunday
(the Fourth Sunday of Lent) and for Solemnities and festive days.105
88 It is important that the music chosen reflects the nature of
the season or occasion, that it contributes to developing a stable
repertoire, and, if it will be used regularly, that it be strong
enough to bear repetition.
89 The selection of music begins with the liturgical texts
themselves. Priority should be given to singing the constitutive
parts of the Mass in preference to hymns, and among these
parts priority should be given to the responsorial psalm, to the
The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols 31
acclamations before the Gospel and within the Eucharistic
Prayer (the Sanctus, memorial acclamation, and Amen), and to
the dialogues between the priest and the people (for example,
the preface dialogue and the final dismissal).106
• The description of the Order of Mass (Part 2) which follows
makes recommendations as to which elements may or
should be sung. A table indicating priorities Singing the
Mass is available on the Liturgy Office website.107
90 On occasions such as the celebration of a wedding or a
funeral requests may sometimes be made that secular texts
and music be introduced to the celebration. Any texts used
within the liturgy should be entirely in conformance with
the biblical and theological tradition of the Church. Secular
texts and music will usually be more fittingly employed
outside the liturgy, for example, at the reception, or times
of private prayer.
Silence
91 Silence is an important element in all communication. It is
particularly important to allow for silence as a part of the
dialogue between God and the community of faith. It allows
for the voice of the Holy Spirit to be heard in the hearts of the
people of God and to enable them to unite personal prayer
m o re closely with the word of God and the public voice of
the Churc h . 108 During liturgical silence all respond in their
own way, recollecting themselves, pondering what has been
heard, petitioning and praising God in their inmost spirit.109
92 Liturgical silence is not merely an absence of words, a
pause, or an interlude. It is a stillness, a quieting of spirits, a
making of time and leisure to hear, assimilate, and respond. Any
haste that hinders reflectiveness should be avoided. The
dialogue between God and the community of faith taking place
through the Holy Spirit requires intervals of silence, suited to the
assembly, so that all can take to heart the word of God and
respond to it in prayer.110
32 Celebrating the Mass
• Liturgical silence is a corporate activity shared in by all
present, by which all support and sustain each other in
profound prayerful solidarity. It demands a stillness and
prayerful concentration, which the priest celebrant and all
ministers can help to bring about.
• Structurally, liturgical silence is indispensable to the rhythm
of a balanced celebration. Without periods of prayerful and
reflective silence the celebration can become perfunctory in
its haste or burdensome in its unrelieved sound and song.
• The purpose of any particular silence, depends on where it
occurs in each part of the celebration. In the Penitential Act,
all pause to remember their sinfulness and the loving-
kindness of God in Christ. At the opening prayer, they put
themselves and their deepest needs and desires before God.
After the readings and Homily, they savour God’s word,
ponder it in their hearts like Mary (see Luke 2:19), and apply
it to their lives. After Communion, they praise and pray to
God in their hearts.111
• Even before the celebration itself, calm and opportunities for
silent prayer and reflection have their proper place in the
church, in the sacristy and in adjacent areas so that those
gathering for the assembly of the Church may recollect
themselves and begin to prepare for prayer together.112
Providing opportunities for such calm and quiet is one of
the many ways in which a community is able to show
hospitality to those gathering for worship.
The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols 33
Materials and Objects required
for the Celebration of Mass
Principal Liturgical Furnishings
93 The general plan of a church must be such that in some way
it conveys the image of the gathered assembly. The people of
God gathered together at Mass possess a coherent and
hierarchical structure, expressed by different ministries and a
different action for each part of the celebration. The general
plan should also allow all the participants to take the place most
appropriate to them and should encourage the proper carrying
out of each one’s role.113
94 The faithful, including the choir, should have a place that
facilitates their active participation.114
95 The place for the priest celebrant, the deacon, and the
other ministers is in the sanctuary. This is the place where
the altar stands, the word of God is proclaimed, and the
priest, the deacon, and the other ministers exercise their
office. It should suitably be marked off from the body of the
c h u rch either by being somewhat elevated or by its
distinctive design and appointments. It should, however, be
l a rge enough to allow the Eucharist to be celebrated
properly and easily seen.115
96 Even though all these elements must express a hierarc h i c a l
arrangement and the diversity of roles, they should
nevertheless form a close and coherent unity, clearly
e x p ressive of the unity of the entire holy people. Indeed, the
character and beauty of the place and all its furnishings should
foster devotion and show the holiness of the mysteries
celebrated there .116
34 Celebrating the Mass
Altar
97 “The altar on which the Sacrifice of the Cross is made
present under sacramental signs is also the table of the Lord to
which the People of God is called together to participate in the
Mass, as well as the centre of the thanksgiving that is
accomplished through the Eucharist.”117 A fixed altar, particularly
when made of stone, also is a clear symbol of Christ Jesus, the
Living Stone (1 Peter 2:4; cf. Ephesians 2:20).118
• Out of respect for the memorial banquet which is celebrated
at it, the altar is adorned with a covering throughout the
Eucharist and after.119
• The table of the altar itself holds only what is necessary for
the celebration, for example, the vessels and Missal, (such
items themselves remaining on the altar only for as long as
they are needed).120
• Candles are required at every liturgical service as a sign of
reverence (see para. 114).121
• There is also to be a cross on or near the altar (see para. 104).122
• Decorative items such as flowers may be placed near or
around the altar, but not on it (see para. 121).123
Ambo
98 When the Scriptures are proclaimed in the church, it is
Christ himself who speaks. 124 The ambo, the place from
which the Scriptures are proclaimed, is regarded as the
“table of God’s word”. Its design should indicate the dignity
of that word. 125
• The dignity of the ambo requires that only a minister of
the word should make use of it. 126 The ambo is used
exclusively for the proclamation of God’s word in the
Scriptures, including the singing of the responsorial
psalm; the elucidation and application of the word in the
Homily and general intercessions; and also the Easter
p roclamation (E x s u l t e t).127
The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols 35
Chair
99 The priest celebrant’s chair ought to stand as a symbol of
his office of presiding over the assembly and of dire c t i n g
prayer.128 It symbolises unity, leadership, and service to the
g a t h e red assembly. Christ is present in the person of his
minister. The position of the chair should allow the priest to
be seen easily and heard by all in the assembly.129
• From the chair the priest leads the Introductory and
Concluding Rites and presides over the Liturgy of the Word.
He may also give the Homily at the chair, sitting or standing,
and say the Prayer after Communion.130
• On occasion additional seating may need to be provided in
the sanctuary for other ministers, for example,
concelebrants, deacons, servers. It should be arranged with
care, not obscuring the particular symbolism of the
presider’s chair, and, so that all ministers may exercise their
functions effectively.131 Care should also be taken that this
additional seating does not obscure the view of sanctuary
for the rest of the assembly.132
Other Liturgical Furnishings
Tabernacle
100 It is appropriate that in each church the Blessed
Sacrament be reserved from Mass in a tabernacle. This
tabernacle should be located in a part of the church that is
truly noble, prominent, readily visible, beautifully decorated,
and suitable for prayer.133
101 The Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the first place, so
that Communion and viaticum may be taken to the sick and the
dying. Its reservation also affords a precious opportunity for the
rest of the faithful for worship and adoration of the Lord’s
abiding presence.134
36 Celebrating the Mass
102 Communion should be distributed from the Tabernacle
at Mass only when for extraordinary circumstances the
liturgical norms can not be observed. The General Instruction
of the Roman Missal clearly stipulates that Communion at
Mass should be distributed from elements consecrated at that
celebration so that, even by means of the signs, Communion
will stand out more clearly as a participation in the Sacrifice
offered at this Mass.135
Cross and other Sacred Images
Cross
103 The Paschal Mystery celebrated in the eucharistic
liturgy was accomplished through the Crucifixion and
Resurrection. Christians glory in the cross of the Lord (see
Galatians 6:14). As a constant reminder of the cost of
salvation and the symbol of Christian hope, the cross should
be visible to the entire assembly during the Eucharist. It may
be carried in procession, or there may be a fixed cross on or
near the altar.136 Care should be taken not to multiply crosses
in the place of worship and so detract from the effect of this
symbol of the Paschal Mystery.
104 It is usual for this Cross to bear a figure of Christ crucified.
However, in the tradition of the Church the saving mystery of
the Crucified One has been represented in different ways,
sometimes by a figure of the suffering or dead Christ on the
cross, sometimes by a figure showing the Resurrected Lord
standing in triumph as King or High Priest at the cross;
sometimes without representation of the person of the Lord but
simply by a plain cross.
• It is desirable that such a cross, recalling the saving Passion
of the Lord, remain near the altar even outside of
l i t u rgical celebrations.137
The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols 37
Other Sacred Images
105 In the earthly Liturgy, the Church participates, by a
foretaste, in that heavenly Liturgy which is celebrated in the
holy city of Jerusalem toward which she journeys as a pilgrim,
and where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God; and by
venerating the memory of the Saints, she hopes one day to have
some part and fellowship with them.138
Thus, images of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the
Saints, in accordance with the Church’s most ancient tradition,
should be displayed for veneration by the faithful in sacred
buildings and should be arranged so as to usher the faithful
toward the mysteries of faith celebrated there.139 For this reason,
care should be taken that their number not be increased
indiscriminately, and that they be arranged in proper order so
as not to distract the faithful’s attention from the celebration
itself.140 There should usually be only one image of any given
Saint. Generally speaking, in the ornamentation and arrangement
of a church as far as images are concerned, provision should be
made for the devotion of the entire community as well as for
the beauty and dignity of the images.141
Other Materials and Objects
106 Materials and objects used in the Eucharist are to be “truly
worthy and beautiful,” authentic in their noble simplicity, and
well adapted to sacred use.142 The greatest care and sensitivity
are necessary, even in the smallest matters, to achieve “a noble
simplicity and elegance.”143
Bread and Wine
107 The very nature of sacramental symbolism demands that
the elements for the Eucharist be recognisable, in themselves
and without explanation, as food and drink.
• Bread must be recently baked, made only from wheat flour,
and should have the appearance of food.144 In colour, taste,
texture, and smell it should be identifiable as bread by those
who are to share it.145
38 Celebrating the Mass
• It is there f o re expedient that the eucharistic bread, even
though unleavened and baked in the traditional shape, be
made in such a way that the priest at Mass with a
congregation is able in practice to break it into parts for
distribution to at least some of the faithful. Small hosts are ,
however, in no way ruled out when the number of those
receiving Holy Communion or other pastoral needs re q u i re
it. The action of the fraction or breaking of bread, which gave
its name to the Eucharist in apostolic times, will bring out
more clearly the force and importance of the sign of unity of
all in the one bread, and of the sign of charity by the fact that
the one bread is distributed among the brothers and sisters.146
• Wine should be natural and pure, from the fruit of the grape,
and free from any foreign substance.147 To be seen and
recognised for what it is and what it signifies, it can help
greatly if the wine is brought to the altar in clear glass
containers and is of a sufficiently rich colour to be clearly
distinguishable from water.
• Care should be taken to ensure that the bread and the wine
for the Eucharist are kept fresh; that the wine does not sour
or the bread spoil or become too hard to be broken easily.148
• In parishes where there is a ministry of baking the
Eucharistic bread for the community, care should be taken
to observe the canonical requirement that plain wheat flour
and water only should be used.149 (Recipes for baking bread
for the Eucharist are available on the Liturgy Office
website.150) Where there are vineyards within the parish,
deanery or diocesan boundaries, “fruit of the vine and work
of human hands” can take on an enhanced meaning when
the wine used has been produced in the locality.
Eucharistic Vessels
108 Vessels for the eucharistic elements normally should be
made of precious metal, their form in keeping with local culture
and with their function in the liturgy.151
The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols 39
109 The fundamental eucharistic symbolism of the many
sharing in the one bread and one cup is more clearly expressed
when all the bread is contained in a single vessel and all the
wine in one chalice. However, additional vessels will need to be
provided in most circumstances.
• Vessels for the Body of Christ preferably have the form of
plates or shallow bowls rather than of chalices or reliquaries.
• Chalices for the blood of Christ should be large enough for
the quantity of wine needed from the assembly to drink.
The vessels should be designed to be easily handled
between minister and communicant, and easily tilted by the
communicant for the purpose of drinking.
Other Vessels
110 Other vessels used in the Eucharistic rite should also be
made of worthy and durable materials although their design
should in some way indicate their lesser function.
• Vessel for the presentation of the gift of wine to the
priest. This should be large enough to contain the
amount of wine needed for the Communion of the
assembly. If it is made of glass the symbol of the wine
will be more evident.
• A small jug or cruet should be provided for pouring a little
water into the chalice at the Preparation of the Gifts.
• A larger jug and basin is more appropriate for the washing
of the priest’s hands after the Preparation of the Gifts.
Generous quantities of water and a towel will be
necessary if the priest is to do more than wet the tips of
his fingers.
40 Celebrating the Mass
Vesture
111 Vestments serve several functions in the celebration of the
Eucharist. They identify the specific function or ministry in the
assembly of those who wear them. In their quality and design
they can suggest the ritual and solemn character of the
Eucharistic banquet.152
• The garment common to all ministers is the alb, which can
express unity and enhance the visual dignity of the
celebration. It evokes the memory of the white baptismal
garment. Where the alb does not completely cover the
ordinary clothing at the neck an amice should be worn.153
• The chasuble, worn with alb and stole, is the proper
vestment of the presiding priest. It may be made from either
natural or synthetic fabrics that are worthy and beautiful.
Beauty should derive from the quality and cut of the fabric
as much as from its ornamentation.154
• By tradition variety in the colour of the sacred vestments has
been used to give effective, outward expression to the
specific character of the mysteries of faith being celebrated
and, in the course of the liturgical year, to a sense of
progress in the Christian life.155
• Concelebrating priests wear either a chasuble and stole, or a
stole alone, over the alb. Vestments that differ in size, shape,
and ornamentation can obscure unity, emphasise individualism,
and detract from the presidential role of the presiding priest.
• The deacon wears an alb, stole, and dalmatic; but the
dalmatic may be omitted, either out of necessity or on
account of a lesser degree of solemnity.156
• Acolytes, readers, and other lay ministers may wear the alb
or other attire that is lawfully approved in each region by
the Conference of Bishops.157
The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols 41
Colours of Vestments for Ordained Ministers
112 Traditional usage should be retained for the colours of
these vestments:
• White is used in the Offices and Masses during the Easter
and Christmas seasons; also on Trinity Sunday, celebrations
of the Lord (other than of his Passion), of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, of the Holy Angels, and of Saints who were not
Martyrs; on the Solemnities of All Saints (November 1) and
of the Nativity of St John the Baptist (June 24); and on the
Feasts of St John the Evangelist (December 27), of the Chair
of St Peter (February 22), and of the Conversion of St Paul
(January 25). White may also be worn in Offices and Masses
for the dead in the dioceses of England and Wales.
• Red is used on Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion and on
Good Friday, on Pentecost Sunday, on celebrations of the
Lord’s Passion, on the ‘birthday’ Feasts of the Apostles and
Evangelists, and on celebrations of martyred Saints.
• Green is used in the Offices and Masses of Ordinary Time.
• Violet or purple is used in Advent and Lent. It may also be
worn in Offices and Masses for the Dead.
• Black may be used, where it is the practice, in Masses for
the Dead.
• Rose may be used, where it is the practice, on Gaudete
Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent) and on Laetare Sunday
(Fourth Sunday of Lent).
On more solemn days, festive, that is, more precious, sacre d
vestments may be used, even if not of the colour of the day.158
42 Celebrating the Mass
Altar Linen
113 Altar linen should always be clean and white. It should
be washed in the way traditional to the Church.159 It need not be
marked with embroidered crosses. The absorbency natural to
linen or cotton makes these materials the most appropriate to
use in making these cloths.
Candles
114 Candles are used at every liturgical service as a sign of
dignity and of the festiveness of the celebration.160 The light of
the candles signifies Christ, light of the world; the gradual
burning down of the candle as the wax is consumed in the
flame serves as sign of Christ’s self-sacrifice in the service of
his mission.
• In order that the symbolism of the candle be an authentic
one, only genuine wax candles should be used in the
liturgy. The use of fake ‘candles’ with wax or oil inserts, is
not permitted at Mass.
115 Candlesticks are to be appropriately placed either on or
around the altar in a way suited to the design of the altar and
the sanctuary. They should not interfere with the faithful’s clear
view of what takes place at the altar nor impede the actions for
the celebration of Mass.161
• At least two candles are to be lit for every celebration
with even four or six especially for a Sunday Mass or on
a holy day of obligation. If the Bishop of the Diocese
celebrates, then seven candles should be used. (The use
of greater numbers of candles on certain occasions is
one simple way of applying the principle of ‘progessive
solemnity,’ cf. 130 below. The practice of using seven
candles at Mass when the Bishop of the Diocese
presides derives from the ancient custom of the Diocese
of Rome.)162
The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols 43
Paschal Candle
116 Each year a new Paschal candle is solemnly blessed at the
beginning of the Easter Vigil. It leads the procession into the
church and is placed on a stand in the middle of the sanctuary
or near the ambo. It is kept burning at all liturgies during the
season of Easter. After the Easter season the candle should be
kept with honour in the baptistery, so that in the celebration of
Baptism the candles of the baptised may be lit from it. In the
celebration of Funerals the Paschal candle should be placed
near the coffin to indicate that the death of a Christian is his
own Passover. The Paschal candle should not otherwise be lit
nor placed in the sanctuary outside the Easter season.163
• The Paschal candle should be made from wax and may be
decorated appropriately incorporating the signs marked
upon it at the Easter Vigil. A Paschal candle from a
p revious year should not be re-used. Remnants of pre v i o u s
year’s Paschal candles might be melted down to make
baptismal candles.
• Although the focus should always be the candle and not the
stand the design and the decoration of stand merits
consideration. It may be found appropriate to have different
stands available to hold the Paschal candle when it is used
in the different areas of the church. Perhaps a more
substantial stand might be used on the sanctuary during the
Easter Season, a more discreet stand for use at Funerals and
in the baptistery a stand or bracket with baptismal motifs.
Incense
117 Incense has been used since before Christian times both
as a sign of respect and honour and as a symbol of prayer rising
before God. Incense suggests both the otherness of the
transcendent God and the cloud which symbolised God’s glory
and presence in the midst of the Israelites. It can contribute
powerfully to a sense of mystery. As a sweet-smelling aroma, it
represents the prayers of the Church rising before God as an
acceptable oblation (see Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:4).
44 Celebrating the Mass
• Incense, which when burning appeals to our sight and our
sense of smell, should be used in amounts sufficient to be
readily seen and smelled.
• In the introductory rites, incense may be carried in the
entrance procession and used at the veneration of the altar.
In the Liturgy of the Word, it may be carried in the Gospel
procession and used to venerate the Book of the Gospels. In
the Liturgy of the Eucharist, it may be used at the
preparation of gifts to honour the gifts of bread and wine
and the altar and to acknowledge the presence and action
of Christ in the priest celebrant and the other members of
the assembly. It may also be used at the showing of the
Body and Blood of the Lord after their consecration.164
• The use of incense at any of these points, or at all, is
optional, and its use at any one point does not necessitate
its use at all the others. It is used in order to express the
solemnity of a particular celebration or to enhance a
particular moment within a celebration.
• Before or after an incensation, a profound bow is made to
the person or object that is incensed, except in the case of
the incensation of the altar and the gifts for the Sacrifice of
the Mass. The thurible is swung back and forth three times
(only) for the incensation of the Blessed Sacrament, the gifts
for the Sacrifice of the Mass, the altar cross, the Book of the
Gospels, the Paschal candle, the priest and the people.165
Each means or sign of Christ’s presence is therefore each
accorded the same honour.
• The thurible is swung back and forth twice (only) for the
incensation of relics and images of the Saints exposed for
public veneration. These are incensed only at the beginning
of the celebration, after the incensation of the altar.166
The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols 45
Adorning the Church
Flowers
118 The use of fresh flowers is encouraged as a way of
engaging in the beauty and dignity of celebration. Discerning
use of flowers can indicate the relative importance of particular
occasions, and signify the keeping of particular seasons.
• During Advent the floral decoration of the church should be
in keeping with the season, not anticipating the full joy of
the Nativity of the Lord.167
• During Lent the church is not to be decorated with flowers.
Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent), Solemnities, and
Feasts are exceptions to this rule. Flowers used on these
days should be removed after Evening Prayer II.168
119 Artificial flowers and plants should not be used. Dried
flowers, ferns and sprays may be used, particularly in winter months.
120 Care should be taken to use flowers to guide the eye to
the various centres of liturgical action - for example the entrance
to the Church, the ambo, the altar, the presider’s chair; on other
occasions the font, the place for reserving the sacred oils etc.
121 Moderation should be observed when decorating altars.
Floral decorations should always be modest and placed around
the altar rather than on top of it.169
Banners
122 The whole environment of the church can be enhanced
through the use of banners and other visual media. These can
be used to give focus to a particular liturgical season or
occasion. Care should be taken that these complement and do
not detract from the liturgical celebration or design of the
building itself. Banners and other materials should not be fixed
to the altar, ambo, font, as this leads to a secondary symbol
obscuring a primary one.
46 Celebrating the Mass
123 A parish might commission a series of banners, for
example, for the liturgical cycle and its patronal Feast which can
be used annually and so become part of the way that parish
enters into the keeping of each season.
Liturgical Books
124 The ritual books - principally the Roman Missal and the
Lectionary/Book of the Gospels - used in the celebration of the
Eucharist serve to communicate God’s presence to us in the
word or to signify the Church’s loving and full response to God.
In both capacities they facilitate the action of Christ in the
Church.170
• Books from which the word of God is proclaimed are
treated with veneration. They need to be of large size,
s t rong binding, and noble design. Care should be taken
that by virtue of their worth, dignity and beauty, the
Lectionary and Book of the Gospels can serve as signs and
symbols of higher realities.171
• Ministerial editions of the ritual books, though not venerated
should also be of large size, strong binding, and noble
design and treated with care. Current editions of ritual
books authorised for use in England and Wales should
always be used.172
125 Ministers should always use the appropriate liturg i c a l
books in the exercise of their particular ministry. Where the
direct use of ritual books is not possible or when material
is used that does not derive from such books, e.g. the
prayer of the faithful, these texts should be presented in a
worthy binder.
• The use of pamphlets and leaflets by the presider or other
ministers detracts from the visual integrity and dignity of the
total liturgical action.173
The Eucharistic Celebration and its Symbols 47
Participation Aids for Congregational Use
126 It is often helpful to provide a congregation with a
service leaflet or sheet. This should provide sufficient
information to help them to know the pattern that a particular
l i t u rgy will follow.
• On Sundays it may prove necessary only to include the sung
texts and indication of the scripture readings (references
and summary verses from the Lectionary).
• On other occasions, particularly when a significant number
of the assembly may be non-communicants or non-
believers the leaflet should also contain spoken texts proper
to the assembly, including the dialogues and responses. It is
also helpful to include the structure of the particular rite as
found in the liturgical books.
• The texts of readings and presidential prayers should not
usually be included in these leaflets. These are texts
proclaimed that they might be heard and prayed in
common. Being invited to follow them in printed texts, runs
the risk of removing from the congregation their proper role
of active listening and responding and replacing it with one
of attending or following the liturgy. Care should be taken
however to make special provision for people who are deaf
or visually impaired. Similar provision should also be made
for those who are not fluent in the language of celebration
as a sign of hospitality, for example, to foreign visitors or
refugee communities.
• Proper care should be taken to obtain appro p r i a t e
permissions for reproduction of all copyrighted texts.
• More detailed guidance can be found in Guidelines for
the production of service sheets available on the Liturg y
Office website.174
 49

Chapter 3
Adaptation of the Liturgy
127 The celebration of the Eucharist, like the entire Liturgy, is
carried out through perceptible signs that nourish, strengthen,
and express faith. Thus, the utmost care must be taken to
choose and to arrange those forms and elements provided by
the Church that, in view of the circumstances of the people and
the place, will more effectively foster active and full
participation and more properly respond to the spiritual needs
of the faithful.175

128 The General Instruction and the Order of Mass specify

certain accommodations and adaptations to enable celebrations of
Mass to correspond more fully to the prescriptions and spirit of the
Sacred Liturgy, and to increase their pastoral effectiveness.176

129 These adaptations consist for the most part in the choice
of certain rites or texts, that is, of the chants, readings, prayers,
explanations, and gestures which may respond better to the
needs, preparation, and culture of the participants. Such choices
are entrusted to the priest celebrant. Nevertheless, the priest
must remember that he is the servant of the Sacred Liturgy, and
that he himself is not permitted, on his own initiative, to add, to
remove, or to change anything in the celebration of Mass.177

Application of the principle of ‘progressive solemnity’

130 The General Instruction and this document present the
celebration which the Church regards as the norm and model of
the Eucharist: the principal Sunday celebration of the parish
community. This celebration assumes the availability of all
necessary resources, the participation of an assembly, and a
range of ministers and musicians.178

131 But if every Mass were celebrated in identical form and

with the same degree of solemnity, then the Sunday celebration
would cease to be truly pre - e m i n e n t .
50 Celebrating the Mass
132 Useful principles for such adaptation or accommodation
are suggested in The Liturgy of the Hours.179
• In the case of the celebration of Mass parishes preparing for
more solemn celebration will generally give consideration to a
richer use of ceremonial, for example, in their use of procession,
additional ministers, incense, candles; the use of music and
settings that will indicate something of the more solemn nature
of the celebration and the general preparation of the church.
• Whatever choices are made should be applied with consistency
across season and celebrations of like nature.
• Further guidance is provided in the rites for other Sacraments,
in the Directory for Masses with Children, as well as in the
General Instruction of the Roman Missal and in the Order of
Mass itself.
Celebrating the Seasons
133 The Church herself ‘adapts’ the liturgy to indicate the
character of particular liturgical seasons. Sometimes these
adaptations are prescribed in the ritual books, for example, the
Gloria is not sung on the Sundays of Advent and Lent, the
Alleluia is replaced by another acclamation during the season of
Lent and the use of liturgical colours. Sometimes the ritual
books give options, for example encouraging the use of the Rite
of Blessing and Sprinkling of Water and the Apostles’ Creed
during the Seasons of Lent and Easter (cf. Roman Missal 4, 19).
• Parish and other communities may further enhance the
marking of the season by the way they prepare the liturgies
of the season, through the use of musical settings reserved
for a particular season, and especially through their
judicious selection of texts from the options given in the
Roman Missal. For example, consideration might be given
to reserving the “I confess” to seasons and occasions where
there is a particular focus on repentance for sin, using the
alternative forms of the Penitential Act at other times.
Adaptation of the Liturgy 51
Celebrating Weekdays
134 Weekday celebrations of Mass are distinguished from
Sunday celebrations by their using a separate Lectionary and
having a slightly simpler form, i.e. the usual absence of Gloria
and Profession of Faith. Frequently the weekday congregation
will be diff e rent in size and make up to the Sunday congregation.
Their numbers may be smaller and their attendance more
frequent. Often the ability of the weekday congregation to spend
time in silent prayer and reflection is greater, for example, after
readings, after the Homily and after Communion.
• In the Lectionary for weekdays, readings are provided for
each day of every week throughout the entire year; as a
result, these readings are for the most part to be used on the
days to which they are assigned, unless a Solemnity, Feast,
or memorial occurs having proper New Testament readings,
in which mention is, in fact, made of the Saint being
celebrated.180
• Musical resources at weekday celebrations will often be
fewer. However, the norms regarding music in the Mass
should be respected. The principal acclamations should be
sung wherever possible.
Celebrating with particular groups and circumstances
135 The liturgical celebrations of culturally and ethnically
mixed groups require special attention. Celebrations with
smaller groups, celebrations outside churches or chapels,
Masses with children, young people, the sick, or persons with
disabilities, and ritual Masses (for example, funeral or wedding
Masses) at which a significant number of the assembly may be
non-communicants or non-believers will necessarily impose
different demands appropriate to the needs of the occasion.
136 The Directory for Masses with Children recognises that
Mass may need to be accommodated to the needs of children
when they constitute a significant proportion of the assembly.
This does not suggest composing rites that are altogether special
or different from the Order of Mass as it is usually celebrated.
52 Celebrating the Mass

One of the purposes of specially p repared Masses for childre n

is to lead the children to the celebration of Mass with adults,
particularly the Sunday Mass of the community.181
• The Church provides three Eucharistic Prayers for use at
Masses when a large proportion of children are present.
These prayers are intended to help achieve the active
participation of children in the Eucharistic Prayer, the
Church’s central prayer of praise and thanksgiving. In
language and their treatment of Eucharistic themes these
Eucharistic Prayers are suited to use with children ranging Part Two
from early school age to early adolescence.

137 When the Church does not mandate proper texts those
responsible for preparing the celebration182 need to give
careful consideration to which texts they choose to use. The
Roman Missal offers a wide selection, for example, the prayers
for Masses for Various Needs or Votive Masses.183 Choice needs
also to be made amongst the approved Eucharistic Prayers and
their pre f a c e s .184

138 At times of particular need, of rejoicing or sadness, many

The Order of Mass
turn to the Church for spiritual support. Often it will be
a p p ropriate to respond to these circumstances with the
Celebration of Mass. A table indicating those days when the
demand of the liturgical seasons limits the use of other texts
such as those for various needs and occasions is available on
the Liturgy Office website.185 When their use is permitted the
texts for Masses for Various Needs and Occasions provide a rich
resource for the liturgy on these occasions. Even when a Liturgy
other than Mass is to be celebrated, for example, an extended
Liturgy of the Word these texts and the accompanying lectionary
provide a valuable resource to be drawn on.
 55

Chapter 4
Introductory Rites
139 In the Introductory Rites, Christ joins the Church to
himself and gathers her children to join their voices to his
perfect hymn of praise. Thus, the liturgical assembly, “where
two or three come together in Christ’s name, and where he is
found in their midst (cf. Mt 18:20), is the ‘first image that the
Church gives of herself’”.186 Indeed the assembly itself is also the
first instance of Christ’s presence in the liturgy.187

The purpose of the Introductory Rites is to ensure that the

faithful, who come together as one, establish communion
and dispose themselves to listen properly to God’s word and
to celebrate the Eucharist worthily.188

Entrance Procession
140 The assembly’s worship begins with the opening song and
procession, which help to create a sense of identity, a willingness
to celebrate, and an awareness of the mystery being unfolded.189
• The opening song should be such that everyone is able in
some degree to join in singing it. The purpose of singing at
this time is to open the celebration, foster the unity of those
who have assembled, introduce their thoughts to the
mystery of the liturgical season or festivity, and accompany
the procession of the priest and ministers. When there is no
singing, the antiphon may appropriately be used by
incorporating it into the introductory remarks that may
follow the greeting. The Roman Rite provides an antiphon
to be sung at this point, although it may be replaced by a
psalm or suitable liturgical song. The text and the music
should be suited to the mystery being celebrated, the part
of the Mass, the liturgical season or the day.190

• A procession of ministers through and from the assembly

expresses visibly the relationship of the priest celebrant and
the other ministers to the congregation.
56 Celebrating the Mass
• Depending on the occasion, the procession is led by ministers
carrying the thurible with burning incense, the cross, and
two candles. They are followed by servers and other
ministers, then the deacon or reader carrying the Book of the
G o s p e l s, if it is to be used. Concelebrants, the deacon of the
Mass, and the priest celebrant then follow. If the Book of the
Gospels has been carried, it is placed on the altar upon
arrival in the sanctuary.
141 The altar is an abiding symbol of Christ and the centre of
the eucharistic action.191
• The priest and deacon, together with concelebrants and
other ministers in the procession, bow to the altar on arrival
as a sign of reverence. If there is a tabernacle containing the
Most Blessed Sacrament on the sanctuary, they genuflect.
Ministers who are carrying a liturgical object, (for example,
a cross, book, or candle), do not genuflect but bow their
heads.192 Afterward, the priest and deacon, and any
concelebrants, make an additional reverence to the altar
with a kiss.193
• On more solemn occasions, this reverencing of the altar
may be further enhanced by the use of incense.194
• After the procession and the reverencing of the altar, the
priest and deacon proceed to the chair. It is from the
chair that the priest greets the people and continues to
preside over the Introductory Rites and the Liturgy of
the Word. 195
Greeting
142 After making the Sign of the Cross together, the priest and
people exchange formal greetings as a mutual acknowledgement
and evocation of the presence of Christ in their midst and as a
prayer for his sustaining power.196
Introductory Rites 57
• As the first dialogue between priest and people, the greeting
and response should be both warm and reverent. Casual
and personalised greetings that emphasise a merely human
exchange and obscure the mystery of Christ’s presence and
action are inappropriate.
143 The Mass of the day may be introduced at this point. A
very brief and well-prepared comment can help to create the
appropriate atmosphere and give tone and orientation to the
entire celebration.197
• At this point visitors, guests, and special groups may briefly
be welcomed to the celebration.
• When significant numbers of children are present, it is
proper that they be acknowledged and addressed directly at
this point.198
• Though the introduction will normally be the task of the
priest, on occasion, for example, when the presider is
unknown to the congregation, it may be fitting for the
deacon or some other member of the assembly to do this.
Penitential Act
144 The Roman Missal provides several forms of the
Penitential Act. The choice between them should be made on
the basis of the liturgical season, the feast, the particular
occasion, for example, a particular ritual Mass, or on the basis
of the circumstances of the assembly that gathers for the
celebration. Each of the forms of the Penitential Act begins with
an invitation by the priest. On occasion the invitation may
appropriately be incorporated into the introductory remarks that
may follow the greeting.
145 In the Penitential Act the assembly, gathered in God’s
presence, recognises its sinfulness and confesses the mystery of
Christ’s love. This may take one of three forms, each of which
conclude with a prayer of absolution.
58 Celebrating the Mass
• I confess... The first form, once a private prayer of
preparation, is a general confession that invokes the
support of the communion of saints and, specifically, of the
community gathered for the Eucharist.
The Season of Lent is a particularly appropriate time to select
this form of the Penitential Act.
• Lord, we have sinned against you... The second form
comprises verses of the penitential psalms.
The weekdays and Sundays of Ordinary Time are particularly
appropriate times to select this form of the Penitential Act.
• Lord Jesus, you are... Lord, have mercy. The third form, although
a Penitential Act, takes the form of a litany of praise through
which the assembly comes to know afresh its need for the love
and mercy of God. In this litany the assembly addresses praise
to Christ our Redeemer for his saving acts. A number of models
are offered for imitation and adaptation. All such adaptations
should, like the models provided, focus on Christ and his mercy.
The litany of praise is sung or recited. The verses or tropes may
be sung by a cantor or choir.199
The Seasons of Advent, Christmas, Easter and Ordinary Time are
particularly appropriate times to select this form of the Penitential Act.
Kyrie
146 The Kyrie is an ancient chant by which the assembly
acclaims the Lord and pleads for mercy. It is used to conclude the
first form and second form of the Penitential Act and is included in
the third form of the Rite. The Roman Church adopted it from the
E a s t e rn liturgies, where it formed the response to various litanies
of intercession. It may be used in English or in the original Greek.200
• It is by nature a chant and, when used, is normally sung by
all, with the choir or cantor having a part in it.
Introductory Rites 59
Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling of Water
147 The blessing and sprinkling of water serves as a
memorial of Easter and Baptism. When it is used it replaces the
Penitential Act. God is thanked for intervening to save us
t h rough the medium of water and is asked to continue to give
forgiveness and life.
• Because of its emphasis on Easter and Baptism, the Blessing
and Sprinkling may appropriately take place on Sundays,
especially in the season of Easter.201
• The use of chant or song during the sprinkling will help
sustain the unity and highlight the meaning of this rite.
Gloria
148 The Gloria is one of the Church’s most ancient hymns. In
the West its use was originally restricted to the opening of only
the most solemn eucharistic celebrations.
• The Gloria is by nature a festive hymn and is normally sung
entirely, or in part, by the people. The text of this hymn
may not be replaced by another text.
• The Gloria is sung on Sundays outside the seasons of
Advent and Lent, on Solemnities and Feasts, and at special
celebrations of a more solemn character.202
Other Opening Rites
149 Other opening rites are provided in the Roman Rite for
use on particular occasions. These rites occur on certain special
feasts, such as the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord or
Passion Sunday; when the Liturgy of the Hours is combined
with the Mass, or when special rites are celebrated during the
Mass, for example, the Dedication of a Church, Rites of
Christian Initiation of Adults, rites of infant Baptism, Marriage,
or Funeral rites.
60 Celebrating the Mass
Collect (Opening Prayer)
150 The collect completes the introductory rites. Through
petition to God, it expresses the character of the celebration and
prepares the assembly to hear the word of God.203
• As the culmination of the Introductory Rites, a Collect is
always used. It may be sung or said.
• After the invitation Let us pray, all observe some moments
of silence so that they may be conscious of the fact that they
are in God’s presence, and call their petitions to mind.
• The collect always ends with a full Trinitarian conclusion, to
which the assembly responds Amen.
• A collect is provided for particular days in the calendar. The
table, Occasions when the Mass texts of the day may be
replaced found on the Liturgy Office website,204 indicates
when there is freedom to choose from other alternatives.
Care should be taken with regard to the prescriptions of the
local calendar. On other occasions there is much wider
choice available, for example from the texts given for Votive
Masses and for Masses for Various Needs and Occasions.
61
Chapter 5
Liturgy of the Word
151 The Mass is made up of the Liturgy of the Word and the
Liturgy of the Eucharist, which are so closely connected as to
form one act of worship. In the word of God the divine
covenant is announced; in the Eucharist the new and everlasting
covenant is embodied and renewed.205
152 The chosen people entered into a special covenant with
God at Sinai, a covenant that was renewed and fulfilled on
Calvary. By hearing the word proclaimed in worship, the
faithful again enter into the unending dialogue between God
and the covenant people, a dialogue sealed in the sharing of
the Eucharistic food. The meaning of Communion is
p roclaimed in the word; the message of Scripture is made
actual once again in the Communion banquet. The
p roclamation of the word is thus integral to the Mass and at its
very heart.
153 The readings from Sacred Scripture and the chants
between the readings form the main part of the Liturgy of
the Word. The Homily, Profession of Faith, and Prayer of
the Faithful expand and complete this part of the Mass.
For in the readings God speaks with his people, opening
up to them the mystery of redemption and salvation, and
nourishing their spirit; Christ himself is present in the
midst of the faithful through his word. The Homily is an
integral part of the liturgy to assist the assembly to hear
the voice of the Lord in his word. By their silent listening
and pondering, and by their singing and acclamation, the
people make God’s word their own, and they also aff i rm
their acceptance of it by the Profession of Faith. Finally,
having been nourished by this word, the assembly makes
petition in the Prayer of the Faithful, praying for the
needs of the entire Church and for the salvation of the
whole world. 206
62 Celebrating the Mass
154 The Lectionary for Mass, revised at the direction of the
Second Vatican Council, has opened up the treasures of the
Bible, so that richer fare might be provided for the faithful at the
table of God’s word. The Introduction to the Lectionary speaks
extensively of the place of the word of God in the plan of
salvation and in the life of the Church. All who share in the
ministry of the word will want to study this introduction and
take its teaching to heart.
155 The proper celebration of the Liturgy of the Word
involves many elements and several ministers, but care is
necessary so that the many human words and elements do not
obscure the divine word itself.
156 The functions of the various ministers, and guidelines for
their service, are given in the Introduction to the Lectionary and
in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.207
Biblical Readings
157 In the Scriptures the community of faith even now hears
God speaking to it. For this reason the biblical readings and
their accompanying Scripture chants may not be omitted,
shortened, or replaced by non-biblical texts.208
158 The readings are to be proclaimed from the ambo.209
159 The high point of the Liturgy of the Word is the
proclamation of the Gospel reading. The other readings in
their established sequence from the Old and New Testaments
pre p a re the assembly for this pro c l a m a t i o n . 210
160 The principles governing the selection and distribution of
these readings are explained in the I n t roduction to the Lectionary.211
• A brief prayerful silence is observed before a reading as
the assembly prepares to listen to God’s word. A
somewhat longer period of silence is observed after the
reading, allowing all to ponder on the word spoken. It
is often preferable for the reader to remain at the ambo
during the silence. If this is not practicable care should
Liturgy of the Word 63
be taken that the prayerful silence is established before
the reader moves from or to the ambo, and that their
movement does not break the silence.
• It may sometimes be helpful for the Liturgy of the Word to be
i n t roduced by a brief word on the background of the
readings. Such comments, whether from the priest or another
minister, should always be succinct and well prepared.212
• The readings may be chanted, provided the form of singing
respects the rhythms and genius of the language and does
not obscure the words.
• The conclusion to the First and Second Readings This is the
word of the Lord may be sung, so as to elicit from the
faithful a sung response of gratitude for the word of God.213
Responsorial Psalm
161 The responsorial Psalm follows the First Reading and
is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word. After hearing
and taking to heart God’s word, the assembly re s p o n d s
with words which are themselves God-given. This
response, the Psalm, holds great liturgical and pastoral
importance because by this use of the word of God
meditation on the word of God is fostere d . 214
The psalms have been used to give prayerful expression to
the faith and feelings of God’s people over the centuries. They
w e re used by Christ himself in prayer. In these words of
wonder and praise, repentance and sorrow, hope and trust, or
joy and exultation the Church now responds to God’s word.
The psalms in the Lectionary have been selected to help the
assembly to meditate on and respond to the word that has just
been pro c l a i m e d .
162 The assembly is to be helped and encouraged to discern
God’s word in the psalms, to adopt them as their own prayer,
and to experience them as the prayer of the Church.
64 Celebrating the Mass
• It is preferable that the psalms, the songs and hymns of
Israel, be sung. The singing of psalms may be done in a
variety of ways. The usual form is responsorial: the psalmist
or cantor sings the verses and the whole assembly takes up
the response. In the direct form, which is also permitted,
there is no intervening response and the cantor, or the
whole assembly together, sings the verses consecutively.215
• The common responsorial Psalms, and responses provided
in the Lectionary for various seasons and days, may be used
instead of the one assigned for the day, if that choice would
facilitate sung participation.216
• But if other ways of singing or sharing the psalms are
appropriate, such as the use of a sung response with a
recitation of the text, these too may be used, so that the
people’s participation may be facilitated by every means.217
• Even when it is impossible to sing the psalm, it may be
possible to support and enrich its recitation with
instrumental music. Psalms should always be recited in a
manner conducive to meditation.218
• The psalm should not be replaced by a non-scriptural song
or text.
Sequence
163 Sequences are provided in the Lectionary for Easter Sunday,
Pentecost, The Body and Blood of the Lord and Our Lady of
S o r rows (15 September). They are optional, except on Easter
Sunday and Pentecost. The Sequence is sung before the Alleluia.219
Gospel Acclamation
164 The Alleluia or Gospel Acclamation is an acclamation by
which the assembly of the faithful welcomes and greets the Lord
who is about to speak to them in the Gospel, and by which they
express their faith.220
Liturgy of the Word 65
165 The Gospel Acclamation has traditionally accompanied
the Gospel Procession, in which the Book of the Gospels is
carried to the ambo accompanied by lights and incense.
• As an acclamation, the Alleluia or Gospel acclamation is
sung by everyone present. The verse may be sung by cantor
or choir (or even recited).221
• The Alleluia or Gospel acclamation looks forward to the
Gospel reading. It does not respond to the previous
reading, from which it is separated by a distinct pause.
• The assembly stands while the procession moves to the
ambo and the Alleluia is sung.
• Where there is only one reading before the Gospel (for
example as on a ferial weekday) the Alleluia or the verse
before the Gospel may be omitted if it is not sung.222
Gospel Reading
166 Because the proclamation of the Gospel reading is the
high point of the Liturgy of the Word:
• It is distinguished from the other readings by special marks
of honour:
its proclamation is reserved to a deacon or, in his absence,
a priest;
the one who proclaims the Gospel reading prepares himself:
the deacon by receiving a blessing, the priest by prayer;
the people stand to hear the Gospel reading and acclaim
Christ present and speaking to them;
servers with candles may stand on each side of the ambo, and
the book may be incensed before the text is proclaimed;
and it is reverenced by the minister after the proclamation.223
66 Celebrating the Mass
• If the Book of the Gospels is used, it is carried in procession
from the altar to the ambo.224
• The proclamation of the Gospel reading is never omitted,
even at Masses with children at which an abbreviated
Liturgy of the Word is permitted.225
• By tradition the office of proclaiming the Gospel is not a
presidential function. Therefore a deacon or priest other
than the presider should proclaim the Gospel. Only if no
deacon or other priest is present is it to be read by the priest
who presides.226
• The deacon (or priest), with hands joined, greets the people
with The Lord be with you, and while announcing the
Gospel passage he makes the Sign of the Cross first on the
book, then on his forehead, lips, and breast. The faithful
also sign themselves in this way and then respond, Glory to
you, Lord.227
• Even if the Gospel reading itself is not sung, it may be
helpful to sing the greeting and title of the Gospel
reading at the beginning and This is the gospel of the Lord
at the end, so as to allow the people to sing their
acclamation. 228 On more solemn occasions, it may be
appropriate to repeat the sung Alleluia at the end of the
Gospel reading after the final acclamation Praise to you,
Lord Jesus Christ.
Homily
167 The Homily is an integral part of the liturgy and a
necessary source of nourishment for the Christian life. In
the Homily, firmly based on the mysteries of salvation, the
mysteries of the faith and the guiding principles of
Christian living are expounded, most often from the
S c r i p t u res proclaimed but also from the other texts and
rites of the liturg y .229
Liturgy of the Word 67
168 In the readings God’s word is accessible to people of
every age and condition, but the Homily as a living
explanation of the word increases its impact by assisting the
faithful to assimilate it and apply it in their lives. It leads
them from contemplation of the word to pro f o u n d
appropriation of the mystery of Christ and his Sacrifice in a
more wholehearted celebration of the Eucharist and in their
daily lives.230
169 If it is to fulfil its purpose, the Homily must be the fruit
of meditation, carefully prepared, and in length, style, and
content sensitively adapted to the needs and capacities of all
present.231 This may well be more easily achieved if the priest
prepares the Homily in shared reflection and prayer with
members or representatives of the congregation.
• On Sundays and holy days of obligation there must be a
Homily at all Masses celebrated with a congregation; it may
not be omitted without a serious reason.232
• A Homily is strongly recommended on the weekdays of
Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter and on other
occasions when people come in considerable numbers.
For the benefit of those people who are regular
participants, and because it is indeed an integral part of
the liturgy, a Homily is appropriate at almost all Masses
with a congregation.233
• The Homily is ordinarily given by the priest who
presides. A deacon or concelebrating priest may be invited
to preach.234
• The priest celebrant gives the Homily from the ambo or
while standing at his chair, from the ambo, or when
appropriate, in another suitable place.235 In particular
circumstances, such as in an unrenovated church or at a
celebration with children, the homilist may need to
approach closer to the congregation in order to
communicate effectively.
68 Celebrating the Mass
• The custom of beginning and ending the Homily with
the Sign of the Cross has its origins in preaching outside
Mass. However, the Homily is fully a part of the liturg y ;
the people have already blessed themselves and
received the greeting at the beginning of Mass. It is
better, then, not to have a repetition of this Sign before
or after the Homily.236
• It is most appropriate that a period of silence follow the
Homily, so that the people may take the word of God to
heart and pre p a re a response to it in prayer.237
• If catechumens are present, they may be kindly
dismissed before the Profession of Faith in order to go
and reflect together on the word proclaimed. Texts for
this dismissal are provided in the Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults.238
• At Masses with children, where few adults are present, if
the priest lacks the necessary skills to communicate with
children he may ask another adult to speak after the
Gospel re a d i n g . 239 Such preaching has its own
importance, though it is not a Homily.
• Given the nature and importance of the Homily it should
not be suppressed or replaced by appeals or other form s
of preaching.
• On occasion, perhaps in connection with special appeals
and collections someone may be invited to preach or speak
to the assembly in connection with this work. If a priest or
deacon, they may incorporate their appeal into their
Homily. If so, it is important that they participate in the
whole celebration. If that is not possible or if a lay person
makes the appeal it is proper that the appeal be made after
the Post-Communion prayer.
• The Directory for the application of the Principles and Norms
of Ecumenism reminds of the restriction of the preaching of
the Homily to a priest or deacon.240 It envisages that when
a minister of another ecclesial community is invited to
Liturgy of the Word 69
preach to the Catholic community this should be during a
non-sacramental liturgy so that all may be united to the
fullest extent possible in the whole of the act of worship
being offered.241
Profession of Faith
170 In the Profession of Faith, the people respond and give
their assent to the word of God heard in the readings and
explained in the Homily. Before they celebrate the mysteries of
faith in the Eucharist, they recite the rule of faith in a formula
approved for liturgical use.242
• The Profession of Faith is recited by priest and people
together on Sundays and Solemnities. It may also be said at
other solemn celebrations.243
• The form customarily to be used is the Nicene Creed. The
Apostles’ Creed, the baptismal creed of the Church of Rome,
may replace the Nicene Creed at Masses with children and
on the Sundays of Lent and the Easter Season as the Church
celebrates the mystery of the Resurrection of Christ in the
rites and Sacraments of Initiation. No other Creeds may be
used. Care should be taken to ensure that children develop
familiarity little by little with the Nicene Creed.244
• At the Easter Vigil, and at Masses in which baptism or
confirmation is celebrated, the Profession of Faith is
replaced by the renewal of baptismal promises. The
renewal of baptismal promises may also replace the
Profession of Faith at the Masses of Easter Sunday.245 In
Masses that include acceptance into the order of
catechumens and in ritual Masses for the election or
enrolment of names or for the Scrutinies, the Profession of
Faith may be omitted.246
70 Celebrating the Mass
• The origin and nature of the creed indicate that it is more
naturally recited than sung. If it is sung, it should be in a
way that involves the entire assembly, either by all together
or by the people alternating with the choir.247
• In the Nicene Creed, a profound bow is made by all at
the phrase by the power of the Holy Spirit... and was
made man.
• In the Apostles Creed, a profound bow is made during the
recitation of the words who was conceived by the power of
the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary.
• At the Masses of Christmas day and the Annunciation all
kneel at the words: by the power of the Holy Spirit... and was
made man or who was conceived by the power of the Holy
Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary.
The Prayer of the Faithful
171 Enlightened and moved by God’s word, the assembly
exercises its priestly function by interceding for all humanity.
Because “the joy and hope, the struggle and anguish of the
people of this age and especially of the poor and those
suffering in any way are the joy and hope, the struggle and
anguish of Christ’s disciples,”248 the Church prays not just for
its own needs but for the salvation of the world, for civil
authorities, for those oppressed by any burden, and for the
local community, particularly those who are sick or who
have died.249
172 Thus, even though the intercessions may be quite
concrete or particular in content, they should always look
beyond the concerns of the local assembly to the needs of
the whole Church and of the wider world. They are a sign
of the communion of the particular assembly with all other
assemblies and with the universal Churc h .
Liturgy of the Word 71
1 7 3 The priest celebrant directs the prayer from the
c h a i r. He briefly invites the people to pray, and at the end
he draws their intercessions together in a brief concluding
prayer with a short doxology. The intentions are pro p o s e d
by a deacon, a cantor, re a d e r, other minister, or members
of the assembly at the ambo or another suitable place.
After each intention, the faithful respond by silent prayer
or a common response or both. They aff i rm the
concluding prayer of the priest with their A m e n. 250
• It is appropriate for the Prayer of the Faithful to be included
in all Masses.251
• Both the priest’s introduction and the proposed intentions
a re addressed to the assembly, not to God. They are
invitations or biddings to the faithful, who norm a l l y
will first pray silently for each intention and then give
e x p ression to their common prayer in an invocation
sung or said together after each intention.
A l t e rnatively, the prayer after each intention may
simply be off e red in silence. 252
• These intentions should be short, clear, and objective
enough for the faithful to understand and respond to
them without difficulty. They should express the prayer
of the entire community. 253 T h e re should be a
significant pause after the intention has been re a d ,
while the assembly prays before the response is sung
or said.
• The response they are to evoke is petition rather than praise,
thanksgiving, or repentance.
• On particular occasions, when other Sacraments or particular
rites are celebrated in conjunction with the Mass, the range
of intentions may be more closely concerned with the
occasion; but even so, the intercessions should always
include some general or universal intentions.254
72 Celebrating the Mass
• For each intention, the invitation to pray and the response
may be sung or the entire intention may be sung or even
spoken while music is played.
• The Roman Rite does not envisage the inclusion of devotional
prayers in the Prayer of the Faithful.255 As is traditional with
liturgical prayer, the Prayer of the Faithful is addressed to
the Father, through the Son and in the Spirit.
• Those who read the intentions return to their place only
after the completion of the concluding prayer.
• Sample formulas for the Prayer of the Faithful are given in
Appendix III of the Roman Missal. Further guidance is
provided on the Liturgy Office website.256
73
Chapter 6
Liturgy of the Eucharist
174 At the Last Supper, Christ instituted the Sacrifice and
Paschal meal that make the Sacrifice of the cross present in the
Church. From the days of the Apostles the Church has
celebrated that Sacrifice by carrying out what the Lord did and
handed over to his disciples to do in his memory. Like him, the
Church has taken bread and wine, given thanks to God over
them, broken the bread, and shared the bread and cup of
blessing as the Body and Blood of Christ (see 1 Corinthians
10:16). The Church’s Eucharist, in all its rich variety of forms and
traditions, has always retained this basic shape: the taking of the
elements of bread and wine in the preparation of the gifts, the
act of thanksgiving in the Eucharistic Prayer, the Breaking of the
Bread, the giving and sharing of the Body and Blood of Christ
in Communion.257
Preparation of the Gifts
175 At the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist the gifts
which will become Christ’s Body and Blood are brought to the
altar. The Preparation of the Gifts is not in itself the Sacrifice
or offering, but a preparation for the Eucharistic Prayer, the
g reat act of blessing and thanksgiving, which constitutes the
C h u rch’s memorial offering of Christ’s Sacrifice, and for
C o m m u n i o n . 258
176 The Church encourages the faithful to bring forward, and
even to provide, the bread and wine through which Christ’s
offering will be made present, together with money and other
gifts for the sustenance of Christ’s body, especially in the poor
and the needy.259
177 The purpose of this rite, then, is to prepare the altar, the
gifts which are placed on it, and the assembly ready for the
Eucharistic offering which is to follow.
74 Celebrating the Mass
Preparation of the Altar
178 First, the altar, the Lord’s table, is prepared as the centre
of the Eucharistic liturgy. Until this point in the celebration, with
the exception of its veneration at the beginning, the altar has
not been the focus of attention. It remains almost bare and
unused during the Liturgy of the Word, which is centred at the
ambo. Now the setting is prepared for the sacred meal.260
• Everything indicates that a new and important stage of the
liturgy is about to commence. A corporal is laid out of
sufficient size to accommodate all the vessels that may be
brought to the altar now and at the time of Communion.
• The corporal, purificators, and Missal are requisites needed for
the celebration. However, they are not themselves offerings or
gifts and are not brought up in the procession of gifts. They
should be brought reverently but without ceremony from a side
table, along with the chalice if it will be prepared at the altar.
• Since these are preparatory tasks, they are carried out by a
deacon, acolyte, server, or other members of the assembly.
Presentation of the Gifts
179 It is one of the Church’s most ancient customs that the
people themselves provided the materials for the Eucharist. They
also brought other foodstuffs to be blessed for their own use and
for the poor. The rite of carrying up the gifts continues the spiritual
value and meaning of this ancient custom. This is also the time to
bring forward money or gifts for the poor and the Church.261
180 The Procession with the Gifts is a powerful expression of
the assembly’s participation in the Eucharist and in the social
mission of the Church. It is an expression of the humble and
contrite heart, the dispossession of self that is a necessary
prerequisite for making the true offering which the Lord Jesus
gave his people to make with him. The Procession with the
Gifts expresses also our eager willingness to enter into the “holy
exchange” with God: “accept the offerings you have given us,
that we in turn may receive the gift of yourself.”262
Liturgy of the Eucharist 75
• The collection of money takes place first. As an integral
part of the Eucharistic liturgy since apostolic times, its
purpose and value will be better appreciated if, after the
Prayer of the faithful, the priest celebrant, ministers, and
people all sit and wait while the collection is taken and
then made ready with the other gifts for the procession.
The collection is not to be taken during the Profession
of Faith or the Prayer of the Faithful, nor should it
continue during the Prayer over the Offerings or the
Eucharistic Prayer. Music or song may begin with the
collection and continue during the procession of gifts; it
should continue at least until the gifts have been placed
on the altar.
• The bread and wine are carried in the procession in vessels
that can be seen by all the assembly. So far as is possible,
the bread and wine should each be contained in a single
vessel, so that priest and people may be seen to be sharing
the same food and drink in the sacrament of unity.
• The gifts of bread, wine, and money are carried forward
by members of the congregation. It is more expressive of
the assembly’s identification with the gifts if the procession
passes right through the assembly. The gifts are accepted
by the priest, who may be assisted by the deacon and
other ministers. The collection of money and other gifts
are deposited in a suitable place but away from the
Eucharistic table.263
• Besides money, gifts in kind and other real gifts for the poor
are appropriate, but not token items that will be retrieved
and returned to ordinary use after the celebration. If it
is intended to make use of things that symbolise the
particular work or identity of the assembly or occasion for
celebration, these are best brought to the sanctuary as part
of the Entrance procession and displayed near the altar or
other suitable place. They should not be brought in the
p rocession with the gifts of bread and wine.
76 Celebrating the Mass
• The purpose of any music at this point is to accompany
the collection, the procession, and the presentation of
gifts, particularly when these will occupy a considerable
period of time. Sung texts need not speak of bread and
wine, nor of offering. Texts expressing joy, praise,
community, as well as the spirit of the season, are
appropriate. Since the presentation of gifts is pre p a r a t o r y ,
instrumental music or silence may often be more effective.
• Care should be taken that the musical elaboration of this
part of the Mass does not emphasise it to the detriment of
the great act of thanksgiving that follows it.
Placing of the Offerings on the Altar
181 The formularies accompanying the placing of the gifts on
the altar are based upon Jewish table-prayers. They are an
expression of praise of God for the gift of creation and for
human collaboration in the production of bread and wine that
will become Christ, living Bread and saving Cup, food and drink
for the assembly.
• It is most appropriate that the bread and wine are placed on
the altar only when the relevant prayers are said.
At a Mass with a deacon the priest carries the bread to the
altar says the appropriate formulary and then places the
bread on the altar. The deacon pre p a res the chalices passes
it to the priest who says the appropriate prayer and then
places it on the altar.
When a deacon is not present the priest will pass the wine
to a server who will hold it until the priest is ready to pre p a re
the chalice.
Alternatively those bringing the bread and wine in the
procession of gifts may accompany the priest to the altar and
present the gifts to him there (prior to his praying the
appropriate prayers and placing them on the altar).
Liturgy of the Eucharist 77
• The priest holds the vessel containing the bread slightly
above the altar and blesses God. He places the bread on the
altar. He then holds the chalice in the same way, blesses
God, and places the chalice on the altar.
• Since the taking of bread and wine is expressed primarily
by the action, normally both formularies will be uttered
inaudibly. If there is no music, the priest may say them
aloud. In this case, the people respond with the
acclamation, Blessed be God for ever. The two formularies
should be seen as a unit; it should never happen that one
is said inaudibly, the other aloud.264
Mixing of Wine and Water
182 In the ancient world, wine was regularly tempere d
with water. In time this functional practice during the
Eucharist came to be interpreted mystically as symbolising
either the hypostatic union or the union of Christ and the
C h u rch. Both understandings are included in the form u l a
By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to
s h a re in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to
s h a re in our humanity, which is derived from an ancient
Christmas collect.
• The preparation of the chalice is a function of the deacon.
When no deacon is present, the priest prepares the chalice.
The one who prepares the chalice says the prayer By the
mystery inaudibly.265
• The chalice may be prepared at the side table before being
brought to the altar.266
• Where more than one chalice is being pre p a red the water
is best added to the wine before it is poured into the chalices.
78 Celebrating the Mass
Incense
183 Incense may be used at the preparation of the gifts to
honour the bread and wine, symbolising the Church’s offering
and prayer rising in the sight of God, and to acknowledge the
presence and action of Christ in the priest celebrant, the
ministers, and the rest of the assembly.267
• The priest incenses the gifts, the Cross and the altar. The
deacon or other minister incenses the priest and the rest of
the assembly.
• When the members of the assembly, including the other
ministers, are incensed at this time, they stand.
Washing of Hands
184 The washing of hands was well known in Judaism, as in
early Christianity, as a symbolic expression of the need for inner
purity at the beginning of a religious action.268 It retains this
spiritual meaning even when there is now no practical necessity
for the priest to wash his hands.
• For the sake of authenticity, this action needs to be perf o rm e d
with dignity and deliberation. An appreciable quantity of
water is poured from a jug and the hands are dried with
a towel.
• The words from Psalm 50 (51), like the previous formulary
With humble and contrite hearts, are an expression of
the priest’s personal preparation and are not
pronounced audibly.269
Prayer over the Offerings
185 The Prayer over the Offerings concludes the preparation
of the gifts and points forward to the Eucharistic Prayer.270
• The priest invites the people to pray using the formulary
Pray brethren...
Liturgy of the Eucharist 79
• The prayer may be sung or said; the assembly responds, Amen.
• After concluding the Prayer over the Offerings, the priest
should make a distinct pause to make clear that the
preparation of the gifts (the “taking”) is complete and that
the Eucharistic Prayer (the “giving thanks”) is now about
to begin.
Eucharistic Prayer
186 The Eucharistic Prayer, the centre and summit of the
entire celebration, sums up what it means for the Church to
celebrate the Eucharist. It is a memorial proclamation of
praise and thanksgiving for God’s work of salvation, a
proclamation in which the Body and Blood of Christ are
made present by the power of the Holy Spirit and the people
are joined to Christ in offering his Sacrifice to the Father. The
Eucharistic Prayer is proclaimed by the priest celebrant in
the name of Christ and on behalf of the whole assembly,
which professes its faith and gives its assent through
dialogue, acclamations, and the A m e n . 271 Since the
Eucharistic Prayer is the summit of the Mass, it is appro p r i a t e
for its solemn nature and importance to be enhanced by
being sung.
187 The Eucharistic Prayer is proclaimed over the people’s
gifts. Through this prayer which has a rich and varied tradition,
the Church gives praise and thanks for God’s holiness and
justice and for all God’s mighty deeds in creating and redeeming
the human race, deeds which reached their climax in the
incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the
Eucharistic Prayer the mystery of Christ’s saving death and
resurrection is recalled; the Last Supper is recounted; the
memorial Sacrifice of his Body and Blood is presented to the
Father; and the Holy Spirit is invoked to sanctify the gifts and
transform those who partake of them into the body of Christ,
uniting the assembly and the whole Church and family of God,
living and dead, into one communion of love, service, and
praise to the glory of the Father.
80 Celebrating the Mass
188 The following Eucharistic Prayers are provided in the Missal.272
• In the Order of the Mass.
Eucharistic Prayers I-IV are the principal prayers and
are for use throughout the liturgical year. Eucharistic
Prayer IV has a fixed preface and so may only be used
when a Mass has no preface of its own and on Sundays
in Ordinary Time. 273
• Also published in the Missal are the
Eucharistic Prayers for Masses of Reconciliation I and II.
These express thanksgiving in the context of the
reconciliation won by Christ. They are particularly
appropriate for use during the season of Lent and may be
used at other times when the mystery of reconciliation is
reflected in the readings or other texts of the Mass or is the
reason for a particular gathering of the faithful. They may
be used with any Preface of a penitential character.274
The Eucharistic Prayer for Masses for Various Needs and
Occasions. The four forms of this Eucharistic Prayer (The
C h u rch on the way to unity; God guides the Church on
the way of salvation; Jesus, way to the Father; Jesus, the
compassion of God) may be used in various
c i rcumstances. Its proper prefaces and closely re l a t e d
i n t e rcessions make it particularly suited to use with the
formularies of the Masses for Various Needs and
Occasions.275 The times when Masses for Various Needs
and Occasions may and may not be celebrated are
indicated on the table Occasions when the Mass texts of
the day may be replaced may be found on the Liturg y
O ffice website.276
Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children I-III. These
may be used at Masses when children constitute a
significant proportion of the assembly. These texts are for
the purpose of enhancing the participation of children in
this central prayer of the Mass and of preparing them to take
full part in Masses with adults.277 The Eucharistic Prayers for
Liturgy of the Eucharist 81
Children, with their variety of acclamations, will be most
e ffective in engaging the children when sung. The three
prayers use diff e rent levels of language. Prayer I may be more
suitable for those only recently introduced to the Eucharist.
Prayers II and III may be more appropriate as children grow
in sacramental awareness and in familiarity with the
Eucharistic liturgy. The texts are rich in catechetical themes
which may be drawn upon when preparing children for the
Eucharistic celebration and as the basis for reflecting with
them afterward on, for example, the nature of the Eucharist
as thanksgiving for creation and salvation, the role of the
Spirit and the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the
Church, the concepts of Sacrifice, Sacrament, and meal.
The Eucharistic Prayer for the Deaf approved for use in
England and Wales is not included in the Missal. It may
only be used in celebrations where a significant number of
deaf people are present and where the prayer can be
signed by the priest celebrant.
189 The following elements may be recognised as
characteristic of the Eucharistic Prayer.278 They do not all appear
with equal weight in every Eucharistic Prayer.
Dialogue
190 Since the celebration of Mass is a communal action,
the dialogue between priest celebrant and the assembly is of
special value. It is not only an external sign of communal
celebration, but also fosters and brings about communion
between priest and people. 279 The dialogue establishes at the
outset that the Eucharistic Prayer is prayed in the person and
power of the Lord who is with the Church, and in the name
of the whole assembly and indeed of the whole Church in
heaven and on earth. All are invited, in the biblical term, to
lift up their hearts, that is, to raise up and place in God’s
presence their entire being, thoughts, memories, emotions,
and expectations, in grateful attention and anticipation.
82 Celebrating the Mass
• The voice, gestures, and stance, the entire demeanour of the
priest celebrant help to convey the importance and the
urgency of this invitation. This may be most effectively
achieved by singing.
• Before the dialogue, the priest may introduce the Eucharistic
Prayer by suggesting very briefly particular motives for
thanksgiving.280
Preface
191 The praise and thanksgiving from which the entire
Eucharist takes its name is especially concentrated in the
“preface”, which proclaims the Church’s thanks for the saving
work of God. In the Eastern tradition this is a fixed part of the
Eucharistic Prayer, beginning the praise of God and the
rehearsal of God’s mighty deeds that continue throughout the
prayer. In the Roman tradition the preface has been a variable
element, stressing one aspect of God’s saving work according to
the day, the feast, the season, or the occasion. In the current
English edition over eighty such prefaces from ancient and
more recent sources are provided for use with Eucharistic
Prayers I, II, and III.281
• The preface is not a preliminary to the Eucharistic Prayer, but
the first part of it. It indicates a proclamation, a speaking out
before God and the faithful, rather than a foreword or
prelude. For this reason it is most appropriately sung.
• The Eucharistic Prayer is always expressed in the first person
plural. It is the whole assembly of the faithful that joins
itself to Christ in acknowledging the great things God
has done and in offering the Sacrifice, even when one
voice speaks in the name of all. It is the responsibility
of the priest, acting in the person of Christ, the head of
the Church, to proclaim the prayer with and for the
people, to engage their attention, and to elicit their
involvement throughout.282
Liturgy of the Eucharist 83
• Eucharistic Prayer II has a proper preface, based like the
rest of the prayer on an ancient Roman model, but other
prefaces may be substituted for it, especially those
which summarise the mystery of salvation, such as the
Common Prefaces. 283
• Eucharistic Prayer IV is constructed on an Eastern model.
Its preface is a fixed and integral part of the prayer, whose
themes continue beyond the S a n c t u s. For this reason, it is
always to be used with its own pre f a c e . 284 This is also true
of the four forms of the Eucharistic Prayer for Various
Needs and Occasions, and the Eucharistic Prayers for
Masses with Children.
Sanctus Acclamation
192 In this acclamation the assembly joins its voice to that of
all creation in giving glory to God, with words inspired by the
vision of Isaiah (6:3). In each celebration of the Eucharist, the
Church is taken up into the eternal liturgy in which the entire
communion of saints, the heavenly powers, and all of creation
give praise to the God of the universe.
• This acclamation is an integral part of the Eucharistic
Prayer. It belongs to priest and people together.285 Of its
very nature it is a song and should be sung, even if on
occasion the preface is not sung. Choir or cantor parts may
also be sung if they facilitate and enhance the
congregation’s participation.
• Settings of the Sanctus Acclamation, together with Memorial
Acclamation and Amen should form a unity which reflects
the unity of the whole Eucharistic Prayer.
Epiclesis
193 In these sections of the prayer, before and after the
narrative of institution, the Church invokes God’s Spirit to
hallow and consecrate the gifts, asking that they become the
Body and Blood of Christ, and to gather those who receive
them into a true communion of faith and love. Through the
sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit the repetition of the Lord’s
84 Celebrating the Mass
words of institution is efficacious, the memorial of Christ’s death
and resurrection is effected, and the Church is built up again as
the body of Christ in the world.286
• The life-giving power of the Spirit, who moved over the waters
in the first days of creation and overshadowed Mary in the
moment of the incarnation, is vividly expressed by the ancient
gesture of bringing together the hands with the palms
downward and extended over the elements to be consecrated.
When done with great gravity and deliberation, this gesture
can re i n f o rce powerfully the understanding of the words and
of the Spirit’s action. This is a laying on of hands and is the
same sacramental gesture used in Ordination, Confirmation,
the Anointing of the Sick, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• In accord with ancient tradition, if there are concelebrating
priests, they stretch out both their hands toward the
elements.287 The gesture made by the concelebrants should
not be exaggerated, drawing attention to the action of the
concelebrants. The full impact of their gesture is best
conveyed when the concelebrants simply and naturally
accompany the gestures of the presider.
Institution Narrative and Consecration
194 At the heart of the Eucharistic Prayer, the account of the Last
Supper is recited. The words of Jesus, in which he gave himself to
his disciples as their food and drink, are now repeated in the
context of this prayer of praise. In the power of the Spirit, these
words achieve what they promise and express: the presence of
Christ and his Sacrifice among his people assembled.288 Everything
for which God has been thanked and praised, all that was
accomplished in the history of salvation, is summed up and made
p resent in the person of the crucified and risen Lord.
• This narrative is an integral part of the one continuous
prayer of thanksgiving and blessing. It should be
proclaimed in a manner which does not separate it from its
context of praise and thanksgiving.
Liturgy of the Eucharist 85
• As a narrative it is also recited for the benefit of the assembly.
It should therefore be proclaimed reverently, audibly,
and intelligibly.
• On concluding the words over the bread, the priest shows the
Body of the Lord to the people, and subsequently does the
same with the chalice. The scale of the gesture will be indicated
by the size and situation of the assembly. The gesture should
be deliberate and re v e rent, but not prolonged, for this would
a ffect the unity and continuity of the Eucharistic Prayer. It is
most desirable that this gesture of ‘showing’ be quite distinct
f rom the elevation, which forms part of doxology of the prayer.
• The bread must not be broken during the institution narrative.
The Eucharistic Prayer is not a dramatic presentation of the
Lord’s Supper but a thanksgiving prayer off e red in
remembrance of that event and the other saving events of the
Paschal Mystery. It is about anamnesis not mimesis. The bread
that has become the Body of the Lord is not broken until the
fraction rite, the Breaking of the Bread.289
Memorial Acclamation
195 The Memorial Acclamation of the people in the
Eucharistic Prayer confesses the Church’s belief in the central
mystery of our faith, the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s death,
resurrection, and presence among his people.
• The Memorial Acclamations provided are not specific to
any Eucharistic Prayers; each may be used with any of
the prayers.
• As acclamations they are intended to be sung.
• The memorial acclamation should not be replaced by
other texts.
86 Celebrating the Mass
Anamnesis and Offering
196 The whole action of the Eucharist is done in obedience to
the Lord’s command, as a memorial of him, recalling especially
his blessed Passion, glorious Resurrection, and Ascension into
heaven. The Church understands this memorial as a living
re p resentation before God of the saving deeds which God has
accomplished in Christ, so that their fullness and power may be
effective here and now. In this memorial re p resentation, the
C h u rch offers the one Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, a
sacramental offering of the Sacrifice made “once for all” by
Christ, the “holy and living Sacrifice” that “brings salvation to all
the world.” It is an offering made by the whole Church, but
especially by those here and now assembled who, in the power
of the Holy Spirit, offer themselves with and through Christ, the
Victim and Priest who joins the Church’s offering to his own.290
Intercessions
197 By the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Church has become a
single offering in Christ to the glory of God the Father. It now
prays that the fruits of this Sacrifice may be experienced
throughout the Church and the world. (In Eucharistic Prayer I,
the intercessions are divided, some before, some after the
institution narrative.) The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints are
named as the prime examples of the fruits of this redemptive
Sacrifice and as forerunners in the communion of the living and
the dead. Praying in communion with Mary and the other saints
of God, the assembly now intercedes for the living and the dead
in union with the Lord, who for ever lives to make intercession
(see Hebrews 7:25).291
• Local patrons or saints whose Feast or memory is being
celebrated may be mentioned in the intercessions of
Eucharistic Prayer III.292
Doxology
198 Faithful to the Jewish pattern of prayer known and used
by Jesus and his disciples, the Eucharistic Prayer concludes
where it began, with an ascription of praise and glory to God,
Liturgy of the Eucharist 87
which is endorsed and ratified by all present in their
acclamation Amen. Saint Paul considered this ratification by the
assembly to be essential to the thanksgiving prayer (see 1
Corinthians 14:15-16), and early Christian writers laid great
stress on it as the people’s confirmation of all that was
proclaimed on their behalf by the priest.293
199 Through Christ, with him, and in him, all is turned to
the Father’s glory by the action of the Holy Spirit. At this
climax of the prayer the consecrated elements are raised
high in a gesture that vividly expresses the true nature of the
Eucharistic Sacrifice as the offering of the Church through
Christ the High Priest, with Christ, who is really present in
the Church, in Christ, who has incorporated his people into
himself by the action of the Holy Spirit.
• The Doxology is part of the Eucharistic Prayer rather than
an acclamation. As such it is proper to the prayer spoken or
sung by the priest alone. The lay faithful participate in this
prayer in faith and silence, and then through their
acclamation, the Great Amen.294
• The profound importance of the assembly’s ratification
a n d acclamation can be difficult to bring out in the one
short word Amen. It should be sung or at the very least
spoken loudly both at the Sunday and weekday
celebrations. Musical settings which prolong the Amen or
repeat it can all help the assembly to experience and
express its true power.
• At the conclusion of the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest
should make a distinct pause to make clear that the
Eucharistic Prayer (the “giving thanks”) is complete and
that the Communion Rite (the “breaking and sharing”) is
about to begin.
 89

Chapter 7
Communion Rite
200 The eating and drinking together of the Lord’s Body
and Blood in a Paschal meal is the culmination of the
Eucharist. The assembly is made ready to share in this
banquet by a series of rites that lead from the Eucharistic
Prayer directly to the Communion. The themes underlying
these rites are the mutual love and reconciliation that are
both the condition and the fruit of worthy communion and
the unity of the many in the one. These themes are
symbolised at both the natural and the sacramental level in
the signs of bread and wine now become the Body and
Blood of Christ.295

• Though each of these rites (the Lord’s Prayer, Sign of Peace,

Breaking of the Bread) is important in itself, in the context
of the whole celebration they constitute together a
transition from one high point, the Eucharistic Prayer, to
another, the sharing in Communion. Their musical
treatment should not be so elaborate as to give the
impression that they are of greater significance than the
giving thanks which precedes them or the eating and
drinking which follows them and which is accompanied by
communal song.

The Lord’s Prayer

201 The community of the baptised is constituted as the
family of God by the Spirit of adoption. In the fullness of
this Spirit, who has once again been invoked upon it, the
assembly calls on God as Father. Because of its themes of
daily bread and mutual forgiveness, the Lord’s Prayer has
been used in all liturgical traditions as a most appropriate
preparation for Communion, “so that what is holy may, in
fact, be given to those who are holy.” 296 The final petition is
expanded into a prayer that concludes with the
c o n g regational doxology or acclamation For the kingdom,
which was appended to the Lord’s Prayer in some of the
earliest liturgical texts and in texts of the New Te s t a m e n t .
90 Celebrating the Mass
• As the family prayer of all God’s children, the Lord’s Prayer
belongs to the whole assembly. When sung, the setting chosen
should be capable of being sung by all present. In this case, it
will normally be desirable for the priest to sing the embolism
that follows and for the priest and people together to sing the
concluding acclamation For the kingdom. If it is not possible
for the priest to sing the embolism, a spoken embolism may
be accompanied by quiet instrumental underpinning, leading
directly into the assembly’s concluding acclamation.
The Rite of Peace
202 A ritual kiss is mentioned in the oldest writings of the New
Testament and is found in the Eucharistic liturgy from the earliest
days of the Church (see Romans 16:16). In most traditions it
occurs before the Presentation of Gifts and is understood as a
manifestation of that mutual love and reconciliation that Jesus
called for before the offering of sacrifice (see Matthew 5:23).
Eventually in the Roman tradition it found its place after the
Lord’s Prayer, whose themes of mutual forgiveness it echoes. In
the early Church it was described as a “seal” placed on prayer.
203 The biblical concept of peace includes total well-being, a
life in harmony with God and with ourselves, with our
neighbours and with the whole of creation. Such peace can only
be the pure gift of God. It is won for us by the risen Christ,
p resent in the midst of the assembly, and so it is the peace of
Christ that is exchanged.
204 The exchange of peace prior to the reception of
Communion is an acknowledgement that Christ whom we receive
in the Sacrament is already present in our neighbour. In this
exchange the assembly acknowledges the insistent Gospel truth
that communion with God in Christ is enjoyed in communion with
our sisters and brothers in Christ. The rite of peace is not an
e x p ression merely of human solidarity or good will; it is rather an
opening of ourselves and our neighbours to a challenge and a gift
f rom beyond ourselves. Like the Amen at Communion, it is the
acceptance of a challenge, a profession of faith that we are
members, one with another, in the body of Christ.
Communion Rite 91
• The peace is always exchanged, though the invitation which
introduces it is optional.297
• In England and Wales the customary sign is a handshake,
however, it is important that this is not seen simply as a
greeting but as expressing peace, communion and charity.
A handclasp may be a more authentic sign than the
customary handshake.
• All the members of the assembly, ministers and people, turn
to those immediately around them.298 It is not transmitted in
sequence, as it were from a single source. Christ, who is its
only source, is present and active in the assembly.
• The sign is sufficiently strong and expressive in itself not to
need explanatory song or commentary.
Breaking of the Bread (Fraction)
205 This characteristic action of Christ at the feeding of
the multitude, at the Last Supper, and at his meals with the
disciples after his resurrection was so central to the
Eucharist that it seems to have given its name to the entire
celebration in the days of the Apostles. The natural, the
practical, the symbolic, and the spiritual are all inextricably
linked in this most powerful symbol. Just as many grains of
wheat are ground, kneaded, and baked together to become
one loaf, which is then broken and shared out among many
to bring them into one table-fellowship, so those gathered
are made one body in the one bread of life which is Christ
(see 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 10:17).
206 In order for the meaning of this symbolism to be
perceived, both the bread and the breaking must be truly
authentic and recognisable. The eucharistic Bread is to “have
the appearance of food” and is to be made so that it is able
to be broken and distributed to at least some of the members
of the assembly.299
92 Celebrating the Mass
• The Breaking of the Bread is done with dignity and deliberation,
by the priest celebrant, if necessary with the help of a deacon
or a concelebrant.300 It begins after the exchange of peace is
completely finished, and the attention of the assembly is again
focused on the action taking place at the holy table.
• The regular use of larger Breads will foster an awareness of the
fundamental Eucharistic symbolism in which the whole
assembly, priest and people, share in the same bread. At every
Mass at least one large Host is broken into several portions.
One of these portions is consumed by the priest, the rest are
distributed to at least some other members of the assembly.
• If additional patens are needed for the distribution of the Body
of the Lord they are to be brought to the altar at this time.
• During the Breaking of the Bread, the Agnus Dei is sung or
said. The assembly calls on Jesus as the Lamb of God (see
John 1:29, 36) who has conquered sin and death (see 1
Peter 1:18; Revelation 5:6, 13:8). The Agnus Dei is a litany-
song intended to accompany the action of breaking and
may therefore be prolonged by repetition. It loses its entire
purpose if a perfunctory Breaking of Bread is already
completed before the Agnus Dei has even begun.
• If commissioned ministers are to assist at Communion, it is
desirable that they are in place on the sanctuary by the end
of the exchange of peace.
• The faithful are not ordinarily to be given Communion from
the tabernacle.301 When, for genuine pastoral reasons, for
example, the late arrival of unexpected numbers, the bread
consecrated at the Mass must be supplemented with the
Body of the Lord consecrated and reserved in the tabernacle
after a previous Mass, this may be brought reverently but
without ceremony from the tabernacle to the altar at the
Breaking of the Bread.
Communion Rite 93
Communion
Private Preparation of the Priest
207 The prayer for the private preparation of the priest is
recited inaudibly. At this time the faithful prepare themselves
quietly and in their own way for Communion.302
Invitation to Communion
208 The consecrated elements, the Lord’s Body and Blood, are
raised up and shown to the people in a gesture that is inviting but
dignified. The congregation is invited to Communion with words
that express the confidence of the baptised and to which they
respond with the humility of the centurion (see Matthew 8:9).
Distribution of Communion
209 Faithful to the Lord’s command to his disciples to “Take
and eat,” “Take and drink,” the assembly completes the
Eucharistic action by together eating and drinking the elements
consecrated during the celebration. It is most desirable that the
faithful share the chalice. Drinking at the Eucharist is a sharing
in the sign of the new covenant (see Luke 22:20), a foretaste of
the heavenly banquet (see Matthew 26:29), a sign of
participation in the suffering Christ (see Mark 10:38-39).303
210 The Communion procession expresses the humble patience
of the poor moving forward to be fed, the alert expectancy of
God’s people sharing the Paschal meal in readiness for their
j o u rney, the joyful confidence of God’s people on the march
toward the promised land. In England and Wales it is through this
action of walking solemnly in procession that the faithful make
their sign of reverence in preparation for receiving Communion.304
211 All signs of discrimination or distinctions among persons
at the Lord’s table are to be avoided.
94 Celebrating the Mass
• There should be a sufficient number of ministers to assist in
the distribution of Communion. This will normally mean
two ministers of the Precious Blood to each minister of the
Body of the Lord.305
• It is most desirable that all who minister the Eucharist take
full part in the entire liturgy: sharing in the proclamation of
the word, the offering of the Eucharistic sacrifice, and in
Holy Communion.306
• The pastor or priest celebrant should see to the full and proper
implementation of Communion under both kinds in accordance
with the provisions made by the Conference of Bishops. Even
when Communion is given under both kinds, however, the
communicant may refrain from drinking from the chalice.
• The Conference of Bishops allows the reception of the Body
of the Lord in the hand. However, the choice whether to
receive in this manner is the prerogative of the communicant.307
• By tradition the deacon ministers the chalice.308 Beyond this, no
distinctions are made in the assignment of the consecrated
elements to particular ministers for distribution. There f o re
when a concelebrating priest or priests and other ministers
s h a rein the distribution, the elements are not assigned on the
basis of any distinction between the ministers, cleric or lay,
male or female. All may minister either element. This avoids
any seeming depreciation of one or other of the consecrated
elements or of a particular ministry.
• If Communion under both kinds is given by intinction (which is
not recommended in England and Wales), the communicant
may choose to receive under the form of bread only. When
Communion in the form of intinction is given, the following
f o rmula is said, “The Body and Blood of Christ,” and the
communicant responds, “Amen”.309 Intinction can only be
administered by a minister and may not be self-administered.310
Communion Rite 95
Blessings and Spiritual Communion
212 Even though some in the assembly may not receive
‘sacramental’ Communion, all are united in some way by the
Holy Spirit. The traditional idea of ‘spiritual’ Communion is
an important one to remember and reaffirm. The invitation
often given at Mass to those who may not re c e i v e
sacramental Communion – for example, children before
their First Communion and adults who are not Catholics – to
receive a ‘blessing’ at the moment of Communion
emphasises that a deep spiritual communion is possible
even when we do not share together the Sacrament of the
Body and Blood of Christ.311
Communion Song
213 The Communion of priest and people is helpfully
accompanied by prayerful congregational song. This singing is
meant to express the communicants’ union in spirit by means of
the unity of their voices, to give evidence of joy of heart, and
to highlight more the “communitarian” nature of the
Communion procession The Roman Rite provides an antiphon
to be sung at this point. The antiphon may be replaced by a
psalm or suitable liturgical song. The text and the music should
be suited to the mystery being celebrated, the part of the Mass,
the liturgical season or the day.312 The singing continues for as
long as the faithful are receiving the Sacrament. If, however,
there is to be a hymn after Communion, the Communion chant
should be ended at the right time.313
• The communion song begins immediately after the common
recital of L o rd, I am not worthy and normally should
continue until all the assembly have received Communion.
• So as not to encumber the assembly with books or
scripts during the procession, the song may be led by
cantor or choir and include a repeated response or
refrain from the assembly.
• Care must be taken to ensure that cantors and musicians are
also able to receive Communion conveniently.314
96 Celebrating the Mass Communion Rite 97

• When it is clear that the communion procession is going • Silence and true stillness can be achieved if all, the assembly
to take a long time, thought should be given to extending and its ministers, take part in it.
the duration of the communion song by way of musical
• As an alternative or addition to silent contemplation, a psalm
improvisation, rather than adding additional songs or
or song of praise may be sung. Since there should normally
allowing part of the communion procession to take
have been singing during Communion, silence may be
place in silence. However, when necessary a second
more desirable.316
communion song or a motet may be sung or instrumental
music played. • This period of deep and tranquil communion is not to be
interrupted even by parish announcements, which if
• Many traditional Eucharistic hymns were composed for needed come correctly on the Concluding Rite, or the
Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. They concentrate taking of a collection. Nor should this silence be broken or
on adoration rather than on the action of communion and overlaid by the public reading of devotional material.
may not be appropriate as communion songs.
Prayer after Communion
• When there is no music to accompany the procession the 216 In a final presidential prayer that brings to a close the
antiphon might be recited by the priest. This should be Communion Rite, the community of faith asks that the spiritual
done after he has received Communion and before he effects of the Eucharist be experienced in its members’ lives.317
distributes Communion to the faithful.
• The prayer may be sung or said; the assembly responds, Amen.
Purification of Eucharistic Vessels
214 When Communion is completed, the altar table is
cleared again and the eucharistic vessels are purified. The
purification of the vessels should be performed with
re v e rence, though briefly and inconspicuously. Especially if
there are several vessels, their purification is preferably left
until after Mass.

• If possible, this cleansing is carried out at the side table. If

it is necessary that it be done at the altar, it should take
place at the side of the altar rather than at its centre.315

Period of Silence or Song of Praise

215 When Communion is completed, the whole assembly may
observe a period of total silence. In the absence of all words,
actions, music, or movement, a moment of deep corporate
stillness and contemplation may be experienced. Such silence is
important to the rhythm of the whole celebration and is
welcome in a busy and restless world.
 99

Chapter 8
Concluding Rites
217 After the Communion Rite, the Mass closes with a brief
Concluding Rite. Its purpose is to send the people forth to put
into effect in their daily lives the Paschal Mystery and the unity
in Christ which they have celebrated. They are given a sense of
abiding mission, which calls them to witness to Christ in the
world and to bring the Gospel to the poor.

218 The Concluding Rite consists of:

• brief announcements, if they are necessary.

• the priest’s greeting and blessing, which on certain days and

occasions is enriched and expressed in the Prayer over the
People or another more solemn formula.
• the dismissal of the people by the deacon or the priest, so
that each member goes out to do good works, praising and
blessing God.
• the kissing of the altar by the priest and the deacon, followed
by a profound bow to the altar by the priest, the deacon, and
the other ministers. If there is a tabernacle containing the
Most Blessed Sacrament on the sanctuary, they genuflect.

• an orderly procession of the ministers and the assembly.318

• when another liturgical rite is to follow immediately, for

example, the final commendation at a funeral, the entire
concluding rite is omitted because these other rites will
have their own form of conclusion.319
100 Celebrating the Mass
Announcements
219 Just as the introductory comments by the priest at the
beginning of the celebration may help the assembly to a
better appreciation and experience of the mysteries
celebrated in the Eucharist, so also the pastoral
announcements at the end may help the people make the
transition from worship into renewed Christian witness in
society. They should help people become aware of the faith
life and pastoral activity of the community and invite
participation in the ongoing work of the Church.
• Ordinarily announcements, when required, should be brief
enough for the assembly to remain standing.
• In order to respect the dignity of the ambo as the place of
God’s word, announcements are made from some other place.
• Announcements may be made by the deacon, by the priest
if he prefers, or by another member of the community.320
• On occasion, perhaps in connection with special appeals
and collections someone may be invited to speak to the
assembly in connection with this work. Where possible, it is
desirable that they participate in the whole celebration.
Dismissal of Commissioned Ministers taking Communion
to the Housebound or Sick
220 It is fitting for Holy Communion to be taken directly from
Mass to the sick or those unable to leave their homes.
• Appropriate times for the deacons, acolytes, or commissioned
ministers of Holy Communion to receive a pyx from the
priest and be ‘sent’ to take Holy Communion and leave the
assembly are either after the Communion of the people or
immediately before the final blessing.
Concluding Rites 101
• The ministers may depart before the Prayer after Communion
prayer, immediately after the Prayer after Communion or as
part of the concluding procession of ministers.
• Local circumstances will determine which of these various
options will be most fitting in any particular parish.
221 The Presider will normally speak words of dismissal or
missioning over the ministers taking Holy Communion to the
sick and housebound. These words may be based on the words
of the Communion antiphon, on the readings of the day, or in
a simple form such as:
Go now, to our sisters and brothers
unable to be with us for reasons of sickness and infirmity.
Take to them from our celebration
the word of God and Holy Communion,
that they might share with us
these signs of the Lord’s goodness.
Greeting
222 The greeting The Lord be with you helps the assembly to
focus attention again on the prayerful aspect of the blessing.
Blessing
223 As Scripture attests, all beings are created and kept in
existence by God’s gracious goodness. They are themselves
blessings from God and should move us to bless God in return.
This is above all true since the Word has come in flesh to make
all things holy by the mystery of the incarnation.
224 Blessings, there f o re, refer first and foremost to God,
whose majesty and goodness they extol, and they involve
human beings, whom God governs and by divine
providence pro t e c t s . 321
102 Celebrating the Mass Concluding Rites 103

• The priest celebrant is encouraged to give a more solemn
form of blessing on Sundays and holy days. He may use
either a solemn blessing or a Prayer over the People. When
either of these forms of blessing is used, it is the function of
the deacon, after the greeting, to invite the people to
dispose themselves in reverence to receive the blessing.
• In the case of the solemn blessing, the priest extends his
hands over the people as he sings or says the formula of the
blessing in such a way that the assembly is clearly invited
to respond with an Amen to each invocation. The threefold
solemn blessings touch upon various aspects of a feast or of
divine graciousness and often they affirm the mission of the
Eucharistic assembly.
• Beginning at the Easter Vigil and up to and including
the Second Sunday of Easter, the double a l l e l u i a i s
added to the dismissal and the response. It is also
added on Pentecost.
• The practice of a final song or hymn is foreign to the
Roman Rite, which is notably brief in its concluding rites.
The use of a final hymn at Mass which keeps ministers
and assembly in their place after the dismissal detracts
somewhat from the dimension of missionary imperative
present in the dismissal texts. The use of instrumental
music, particularly an organ voluntary, is more
appropriate to this moment.

• In the case of a Prayer over the People, which by contrast

is simpler and more general in content, the priest uses the
same gesture of extending his hands over the people.
• When a Bishop presides, in addition to these formularies he
may use other special formularies of blessing.
• All these various forms of blessing conclude always with the
Trinitarian formulary, during which the priest with his right
hand traces the Sign of the Cross over the members of the
assembly as they make the Sign of the Cross on themselves.

Dismissal
225 The Dismissal sends the members of the congregation
forth to praise and bless the Lord in the midst of their daily
responsibilities.322

• It is the deacon’s role to say or sing the Dismissal, which

should be done in a way that invites the people’s response.323
• The response Thanks be to God is a statement of grateful
praise for encountering the risen Christ in the
assembly’s worship.
104 Abbreviations 105

Abbreviations

AAS Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Commentarium officiale Vatican City (1909– ). GS Vatican Council II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the
Modern World Gaudium et Spes, 7 December 1965.
BB Roman Ritual, Book of Blessings, editio typica, 1984.
HCWE Roman Ritual, Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist
CB Congregation for Divine Worship, C e remonial of Bishops,
outside Mass, 21 June 1973.
14 September 1984.
ID Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship,
CCC Cathechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd edition, 2000.
Instruction Inaestimabile Donum April 3, 1980: AAS 72 (1980).
CP C o n g regation for Divine Worship, Instruction Calendaria
LG Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen
particularia, on the revision of particular calendars and of the
Gentium, 21 November 1964.
propers for offices and Masses, 24 June 1970: AAS 62 (1970).
LM Roman Missal, Lectionary for Mass, 2nd English edition, 1981,
DMC Congregation for Divine Worship, Directory for Masses with
Introduction.
Children, 1 November 1973: AAS 66 (1974).
MQ Pope Paul VI, Motu Proprio, Ministeria Quaedam, 15 August
DD Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Dies Domini (On keeping the
1972: AAS 64 (1972).
Lord’s day holy), 31 May 1998: AAS 90 (1998).
MS Congregation of Rites, Instruction Musicam Sacram, on music
DPNE Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.
in the liturgy, 5 March 1967: AAS 59.
Directory for the application of the Principles and Norms of
Ecumenism, 25 March 1993. OBOB Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales, Ireland,
and Scotland, One Bread, One Body, 1998.
EP Congregation for Divine Worship, Circular Letter Eucharistiæ
participationem, to the presidents of the Conferences of Bishops, PO Vatican Council II, Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests,
on the Eucharistic Prayers, 27 April 1973: AAS 65 (1973). Presbyterorum Ordinis.
EPCR C o n g regation for Divine Worship, Eucharistic Prayers for Masses PS Congregation for Divine Worship, Circular letter, Paschale
with Children and for Masses of Reconciliation, 1 November 1974. Solemnitatis, 16 January 1988.
EPVN Congregation for Divine Worship, Eucharistic Prayer for Masses RCIA Roman Ritual, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, 2nd English
for Various Needs and Occasions, 6 August 1991. Edition, 1985.
EuchMyst Congregation of Rites, Instruction Eucharisticum mysterium, on RDCA Roman Pontifical: Rite of the Dedication of a Church and an
the worship of the Eucharist, 25 May 1967: AAS 59 (1967). Altar, editio typica, 1984.
GILH Divine Office, General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours, RM Roman Missal, Roman Missal, editio tertia, 20 April 2000.
11 April 1971. RO Roman Pontifical, Rites of Ordination of Bishops, Presbyters,
GIRM Roman Missal, General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 20 April 2000. and Deacons, second typical edition, 1993.
GNLYC Congregation of Rites, General Norms for the Liturgical Year RS Congregation for Divine Worship, Instruction Redemptionis
and the Calendar, 21 March 1969. Sacramentum, 25 March 2004.
SC Vatican Council II, Constitution on the Liturgy Sacrosanctum
Concilium, 4 December 1963.
106 Endnotes 107

Endnotes
97 144
SC 112. GIRM 320.
98 145
GIRM 41. GIRM 321.
99 146
GIRM 41. GIRM 321, RS 49.
An Introduction 47
GIRM, 103-4, 39-41. 100
SC 112, 113. 147
GIRM 322.
48
1
OBOB 3 (cf. CCC, nos 1328, 1332; Acts of the GIRM 61-64, 102. 101
GIRM 39-41. 148
GIRM 323, RS 48, 50.
Apostles 2.42; LG 11). 49
GIRM 48, 87. 102
2
www.liturgyoffice.org.uk 149
ID 8.
RM, Preface I for Easter. 50
GIRM 102. 103
3
GIRM 32. 150
www.liturgyoffice.org.uk
EuchMyst 3, a-c: AAS 59 (1967), pp. 540-542. 51
GIRM 104. 104
GIRM 313. 151
4 52
GIRM 328-332.
GIRM 72. GIRM 103. 105
GIRM 313. 152
53
GIRM 335.
5
GIRM 28; RM, LM, 10. GIRM 103, 313. 106 153
GIRM 336.
54
LM, 19-20; GIRM 40; MS 7, 29: AAS 59 (1967),
6
GIRM 91. GIRM, 111, 352, 366. pp. 302, 308-209. 154
GIRM 337, 343, 344.
55
7
SC 14, 28; GIRM 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. GIRM 80. 107
www.liturgyoffice.org.uk 155
GIRM 345-6.
56
8
SC 49, 106; GNLYC 4; GIRM 19. Cf. DD GIRM, 162, 281. 108 156
GIRM 119b, 336, 338.
GILH 202; EP 18: AAS 65 (1973), p.347.
Chapter 3. 57
GIRM 162. 109 157
9 EP 18: AAS 65 (1973), p.347. GIRM 339.
SC 28. 58
GIRM 100. 110 158
10 LM 28, GIRM 56. GIRM 346, RS 121, 127.
SC 7; GIRM 27. 59
GIRM 106. 111 159
60
GIRM 45. RS 120.
GIRM 105d. 112 160
GIRM 307.
Chapter 1 61
GIRM 45.
11
GIRM 105a; CB 37, 38. 113
GIRM 294. 161
GIRM 307.
C f . SC, 48; EuchMyst 12: AAS 59 (1967), pp. 548- 62
GIRM 292, 325, 348. 114 162
549. 39. 63
GIRM 294. GIRM 117.
12 GIRM 111, 352, RS 39. 115
GIRM 295. 163
GIRM 95. 64
PS 98.
GIRM 106. 116
GIRM 294, 295. 164
13
SC 14, RS 37. GIRM 276.
117
14
GIRM 56. Chapter 2 GIRM 296. 165
GIRM 277.
118 166
15
GIRM 34. 65
SC 7. GIRM 298, 301. Not withstanding the GIRM 277.
16
GIRM 39. 66
particular suitability of stone for altars noble 167
GIRM 305.
MS 15: pp 3045. and solid wood may also be used for the 168
17
GIRM 42, 96. 67
GIRM 42. building of altars for use in the dioceses of GIRM 305.
169
18
SC 28. 68
GIRM 43. England and Wales. GIRM 305.
170
19
SC 14. 69
GIRM 43.
119
GIRM 304. LM 35.
171
20
RS 39, 46. 70
GIRM 43.
120
GIRM 306. GIRM 349.
172
21
GIRM 97. 71
SC 30; GIRM 42.
121
GIRM 307. CB 115.
173
22
GIRM 91. 72
GIRM 43.
122
GIRM 308. LM 37.
174
23
SC 7, GIRM 27. 73
GIRM 275.
123
GIRM 305. www.liturgyoffice.org.uk
24 124
LG 23; RO 13. 74
GIRM 275, 43. SC 7.
25
LG 25, 26; RO 14; GIRM 22, 92. 75
125
GIRM 29, 309; LM 32. Chapter 3
GIRM 274. 175
GIRM 20.
126
26
PO 2; RO 101. 76
GIRM 274. GIRM 309. 176
27 127
LM 33. GIRM 23, RS 39.
GIRM 27, 92, 93. 77
GIRM 82. 177
28 128
GIRM 310. GIRM 24, 352, RS 39.
GIRM 93. 78
EP 17; AAS 65 (1973), pp 346-347; GIRM 38. 178
29 129
GIRM 27, 310. GIRM 113, 115, 116.
Rite of Ordination of a Priest 15; RS 31. 79
LM 12. 179
30 130
GIRM 124, 165; LM 26. GILH 273.
PO 5. 80
LM 28, GIRM 55, 56. 180
31 131
GIRM 310. GIRM 357, 358.
LM 38; EP pp. 346-347. 81
GIRM 29. 181
32
GIRM 30. 82
132
GIRM 311. DMC 19, 21: AAS 66 (1974), pp. 3536.
GIRM 30. 182
33
GIRM 31; LM 42. 83
133
GIRM 314. GIRM 111.
GIRM 30. 183
34
GIRM 59. 84
134
HCWE 5. GIRM 363.
GIRM 54. 184
35
GIRM 65-66. 85
135
GIRM 83, 85. cf. GIRM 364-5, and also the Eucharistic
GIRM 54. Prayers for Children, Reconciliation and
136
36
GIRM 199. 86
GIRM 54. GIRM 122, 308. Various Needs and Occasions.
137
37
GIRM 94; LG 29; RO 199. 87
GIRM 34. GIRM 308. 185
Occasions when Mass texts of the day may be
138
38
GIRM 71, 94, 175, 177; LM 50. 88
GIRM 35. GIRM 318. replaced www.liturgyoffice.org.uk
39 139
GIRM 94. 89
GIRM 34-36. Cf. The Roman Pontifical: Order of the Dedication
40
GIRM 83, 94, 178, 180, 182, 284. 90
GIRM 39. of a Church and an Altar, editio t y p i c a, 1984, Chapter 4
41
Chapter 4, no. 10; BB, Order for the Blessing 186
Pope John Paul II, Allocution Chers frères
MQ pp 529-534. 91
GIRM 40. of Images for Public Veneration by the
42 dans l’èpiscopat (March 8, 1997) 5.
GIRM 101. 92
GIRM 48, 87. Faithful, nos. 984-1031. 187
43 SC 7.
GIRM 109; LM 52. 93
GIRM 35, 40. 140
Cf. SC 125. 188
44 SC 7; GIRM 27, 46.
GIRM 99; LM 22. 94
GIRM 34, 40. 141
GIRM 318. 189
45 GIRM 47.
GIRM 118b, 119, 120, 194-5. 95
GIRM 31; EP 14: AAS 65 (1973), pp. 345-346. 142
GIRM 288, 325, 236. 190
46
GIRM 71, 197. 96 143 GIRM 48, 47; CP 40a: p. 661.
GIRM 33. GIRM 351.
108 Celebrating the Mass Endnotes 109

191 242 283 304

EuchMyst 24: AAS 59 (1967), p. 554. GIRM 67; LM 29. GIRM 365b. GIRM 160.
192 243 284 305
GIRM 274. GIRM 68. GIRM 365d. RS 94.
193 285 306
GIRM 49, 122, 123, 173, 275 a and b. 244
DMC 39, 49; Missale Romanumn, Ordo Missœ GIRM 79b. GIRM 162.
194
GIRM 123, 276, 277. editio tertia, 19. 286
GIRM 79c. 307
RS 90.
245
195
GIRM 124, 174. Renewal of Baptismal Promises, The Easter 287
GIRM 222a, 227a, 230a, 233a, 235. 308
GIRM 94, 284.
196
GIRM 50. Vigil, p. 216 and Easter Day, p. 220. 288
GIRM 79d. 309
GIRM 287.
246
197
GIRM 50, 124; EP 14: AAS 65 (1973), pp. 345-346. RCIA 68, 124, 143, 157, 164. 289
RS 55. 310
RS 104.
247
198
DMC 17. GIRM 68. 290
GIRM 79e, 79f. 311
248
OBOB 43 (see also OBOB 84).
199
GIRM 52. GS 1. 291
GIRM 79g. 312
GIRM 87.
249
200
GIRM 52. GIRM 69, 70; LM 30. 292
GNLYC 49. 313
GIRM 86.
250
201
GIRM 51. GIRM 71; LM 31. 293
GIRM 79h. 314
GIRM 86.
251
202
GIRM 53. GIRM 69. 294
GIRM 147. 315
GIRM 163, 279.
252
203
GIRM 54. GIRM 71. 316
GIRM 45, 88, 164.
204
www.liturgyoffice.org.uk
253
GIRM 71. Chapter 7 317
GIRM 89.
254
GIRM 70. 295
GIRM 80.
255
cf. RM Appendix 3. 296
GIRM 81. Chapter 8
Chapter 5 256
www.liturgyoffice.org.uk 297
GIRM 82. 318
GIRM 90, 166-169.
205 298
GIRM 28; LM 10. GIRM 82. 319
GIRM 170.
206
Chapter 6 299
GIRM 55. 257 GIRM 321. 320
GIRM 184.
207
GIRM 72. 300
GIRM 91-111; LM 38-57. 258 RS 73. 321
BB, 1987, General Introduction 7.
208
GIRM 73. 301
GIRM 57; LM 12. 259 SC 55; EuchMyst, nos. 31-32; GIRM 85. 322
GIRM 90b.
209
GIRM 73. 302
GIRM 58. 260 GIRM 84. 323
GIRM 185.
210
GIRM 73, 306. 303
LM 13. 261 GIRM 72.3, 85, 281, 282, 282.
211
GIRM 73, RS 70.
LM, 65-91. 262
212
RM: 29 December, Prayer over the Gifts.
LM 15. 263
213
GIRM 73.
GIRM 59. 264
214
GIRM 33, 141-2.
GIRM 61. 265
215
GIRM 178.
LM 20. 266
216
GIRM 178.
GIRM 61; LM 89. 267
217
GIRM 178.
LM 21. 268
218
GIRM 76.
LM 22. 269
219
GIRM 145, 33.
GIRM 64. 270
220
GIRM 77.
GIRM 62; LM 23. 271
221
GIRM 78.
GIRM 62, 63; LM 23. 272
222 The Latin edition of 3rd edition of the RM
GIRM 63. includes all these texts, with the exception of
223
GIRM 60. the Eucharistic Prayer for the Deaf which is
224
GIRM 60, 172, 120. a p p roved only for use in England and Wales.
225 An English translation of the 3rd edition of the
DMC 42. RM is in preparation. In the meantime these
226
GIRM 59. other prayers are available as separate
227
GIRM 134. publications. Details on how to obtain them is
228
LM 117. available from the Liturgy Office website
229
www.liturgyoffice.org.uk, RS 51.
SC 52; GIRM 65; RS 67. 273
230
GIRM 365.
GIRM 29; LM 24. 274
231 EPCR Introduction, 1-2. 3 Edition of the RM,
GIRM 65, 111, 352; LM 24. rubric to the Preces Eucharisticae ‘De
232
GIRM 66; LM 24. Reconciliatione’.
233
GIRM 66; LM 25. 275
EPVN Introduction 1.
234
GIRM 66, 94, 213. 276
www.liturgyoffice.org.uk
235
GIRM 136, LM 26. 277
EPCR 1; DMV 52.
236
C o n g regation for Divine Worship, Reply, 278
GIRM 79.
Notitiœ 9 (1973) p. 178 (DOL 1432 R8). 279
GIRM 34.
237
GIRM 66; LM 28. 280
GIRM 31.
238
RCIA 67. 281
GIRM 55a. Still further prefaces are pro v i d e d
239
DMC 24. in the 3rd edition of the RM currently
240
DPNE 134. awaiting approved translation.
282
241
DPNE 114, 118. GIRM 27, 78.
110 Index 111

Index Choir 103, 294, 312

GIRM 3
43
CTM

This Index guides the user to both ‘ The General Instruction of the Roman Missal’ ( 3 rd Edition) Christ, Presence of 27, 29, 93 1, 19, 22, 37, 41, 98, 99
and to ‘Celebrating the Mass’, abb reviated here re s p e c t i ve ly to GIRM 3 and CTM. R e fe rences are Christmas, Season of
to para graph nu m b e rs in both tex t s . choice of texts 353-355 133
vestment colours 346 112
GIRM 3 CTM see also Calendar; Liturgy Preparation
Church
Acclamations 34-35, 40, 62-63, 79, 147, 151 24, 77, 89, 164-165, 192, 195, 199 celebration of Mass is central 16-20 1, 18, 21
Acolyte 98, 100, 187-193, 339 40 Churches, Design of 288-313 93-105
see also Holy Communion, Ciborium 329 108-109
Commissioned Ministers of; Ministers see also Vessels, Sacred
Adaptation 23-26, 352 127-138 Collect (Opening Prayer) 30, 54, 127, 259, 363 72, 150
By Conference of Bishops 383-399 Collection 73, 140 180
By Diocesan Bishop 386-387 see also Processions
see also Conference of Bishops Colours 345-347 112
Advent Commentators 105
choice of texts 353-355 133 Common Texts 34-36 74
flowers, use of 305 118 Communion, Holy
musical instruments, use of 313 86 see Holy Communion
vestment colours 346 112 Communion Rite 80-89, 152-165, 181-183, 200-216
Alb 336, 339 111 237-249, 266-270
Altar 73, 273, 296-308 97, 141 Communion Chant 37, 86-87 213
linen 113 see also Communion Rite,
Altar Servers 100 47 Hymn after Communion
see also Acolyte Communitarian Nature of Liturg y 34, 42, 86, 91, 95-96, 288, 294 8, 10, 21, 23-24,
Ambo 58, 309 98 56, 61, 73, 80, 93
Amen (Great) 79, 151, 180 199 Concelebration 22, 92, 112, 199-251 38
Announcements 90, 166, 184 219 Concluding Rites 90, 166-170, 184-186, 217-225
Art 22, 289, 292, 318, 325, 351 105 250-251, 272
Assembly Conclusions to Prayers 54, 77, 89
see Liturgical Assembly Conference of Bishops,
Banners 122-123 Adaptations by 25, 388-395 67, 112, 210, 211
Bell 150 Credence Table
Bidding Prayer see Preparation of the Place of Worship
see Prayer of the Faithful Creed
Bishop 22, 97, 112, 387 21, 26, 33, 34-35 see Profession of Faith
Blessing Cross 117, 120, 122, 276, 308, 350 103-104
at Communion 212 Dalmatic 338 111
at conclusion of Mass 90, 167, 185 223-224 Deacon 94, 171-186, 208 39
of water 51 147 Decoration of Churches 325, 351 50, 118-123
Bow 43, 137, 274-275 63 see also Banners, Flowers, Images
Bread 319-321, 323 107 Dialogues 34 73
see also Holy Communion Director of Liturgy 106 51
Breaking of Bread 83 205-206
see also Communion Rite, Easter, Season of
Lamb of God choice of texts 353-355 133
vestment colours 346 112
Calendar 352-358, 363, 394 see also Calendar; Liturgy Preparation
see also Choice of Mass Texts; Entrance Procession 47, 120-121, 172, 210, 256, 276 140-141
Liturgy Preparation Entrance Chant 37, 47-48 140
Candles 117, 120, 307 114-116 Eucharist
Cantor 104 43 action of Christ 16 21
see also Ministers, Liturgical; Psalmist action of the church 5, 16, 19, 91 21
Chair for Priest Celebrant 310 99 Institution 1, 72 18-19
Chalice 330 108-109 revision and celebration 12-15
see also Holy Communion; Sacrifice 1, 2, 17, 27, 72, 96 6, 18, 22-23, 97, 168,
Vessels, Sacred 174-175, 186-189, 196
Chasuble 119, 209, 337 111 see also B read; Christ, Presence of;
see also Vestments, Sacred Eucharistic Prayer; Holy Communion;
Choice of Mass Texts 325-385 127-138 Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament;
see also Calendar; Liturgy Preparation Wine
112 Celebrating the Mass Index 113

GIRM 3 CTM GIRM 3 CTM

Eucharistic Prayer 78-79, 147-151, 179-180, 72, 186-199 Lectionary for Mass 349, 391 42, 124
216-236, 265, 364-365 Lector 59, 99, 100, 194-198, 339 40
see also Ministers, Liturgical; Reader
Faith
Lent
nourished, strengthened and
choice of texts 353-355 133
manifested in Eucharist 20 1, 5, 12, 16-17, 127
flowers, use of 305 118
Feasts 354, 357
musical instruments, use of 313 87
see also Calendar; Choice of Mass Texts;
vestment colours 346 112
Liturgy Preparation
see also Calendar; Liturgy Preparation
Flowers 305 118-121
Liturgical Assembly 5, 18, 91, 95-97, 294 18, 22-24
Funerals
see also Participation
see Masses for the Dead
Liturgical Books 117-118, 349, 395 124-125
Furnishings, Sacred 288-318, 326, 348, 350-351 93, 106
Liturgical Commissions 291 51
see also individual furnishings
see also Bishop
under their own headings
Liturgy
General Intercessions formative quality 20 9, 26
see Prayer of the Faithful hierarchical nature 91 21, 93
Gesture and Posture 42-44, 50, 96, 160, 274-276 57-67, 210 pastoral character 12, 20, 24, 352 127-138
see also Veneration, Signs of place in Christian life 16 1-17
Gloria 37, 53, 126, 258 148 summit and fount 16 1
Gospel 60, 133-134, 175, 262, 277 166 see also Bishop; Communitarian Nature;
Gospel Acclamation 37, 62, 63, 131-133, 175 164-165 Eucharist, Mass; Paschal Mystery
Gospels, Book of the 120, 122, 172-173, 175, 41, 42, 65, 117, 124, 140, 165 Liturgy, Reform of 1-15
194-195, 273, 349 Liturgy of the Eucharist 28, 72-89, 139-165, 19-20, 72, 174-216
Greetings at Mass 34-35, 50, 123, 254, 257 142-143 178-183, 214-249, 265-271
Gregorian Chant 41 81 see also Communion Rite,
Eucharistic Prayer
Holy Communion 84-87, 160-162, 209-211 Liturgy of the Word 55-71, 128-138, 175-177, 19-20, 151-173
182, 245-249, 383 196-197, 212-213, 260-264, 309
F rom elements consecrated Liturgy Preparation 18, 106, 111, 352 51, 85, 129, 132
at same Mass 85 102, 206 Lord’s Prayer 36, 41, 81, 152, 237 201
Under both kinds 14, 161, 281-287 209-211
see also Bread; Communion Rite; Mary 355, 375, 378
Vessels, Sacred; Wine Mass
Holy Communion action of Christ and the church 16-20 21
Commissioned ministers of 100, 162, 284 44-46 adaptation to modern conditions 10-15
see also Acolyte; Ministers, Liturgical centre of Christian life 16-20 1-17
Homily 29, 56, 65-66, 94, 71, 167-169 communal celebration preferred 19, 112-116
136, 171, 213, 382 fruits 17-19
Hymn after Communion 37, 88, 164 215 duties of the people of God 95-97 21-24, 27
Hymns 39, 86, 88 83, 89, 140, 180, 213, 215, 225 duties and ministries of holy orders 92-94 33-39
revision 1-9
Images 318 103-105 see also Eucharist;
Incensation 123, 132-134, 144, 117 Liturgy Preparation; Liturgy
173, 175, 276-277 Masses for the Dead 346, 379-382 112
Instruments Masses for Various Needs 346, 368-377 137-138
see Musical Instruments Master of Ceremonies
Intinction see Director of Liturgy
see Holy Communion Memorials 355, 376-378
Introductions 31, 50, 124, 128 78 see also Calendar; Liturgy Preparation
Introductory Rites 46-54, 120-127, 172-174, 139-150 Memorial Acclamation 37, 147 195
210-211, 256-259 Ministers, Liturgical 91-111 25-51
Kiss chairs for 310 99
see Veneration, Signs of commissioning 101, 107
Kyrie Eleison 52, 125, 258 146 consultation in planning 352
see also Penitential Act Diocesan norms 107
diversity should be represented 27
Lamb of God 37, 83, 155, 240, 267, 366 206 each does only his/her own part 91, 109 28
Latin 49 81 formation 26, 30, 32
Lavabo 76 184 lay people may take ministerial ro l e s 100-101, 107
Leaflets one taking several parts 110
see Participation Aids
114 Celebrating the Mass Index 115

GIRM 3 CTM GIRM 3 CTM

several of same rank 109 Reader 101, 352 41-42
vesture 335-336, 339 111 see also Lector; Ministers, Liturgical
see also individual ministries under Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament 314-317 100-102
their own headings Responsorial Psalm 37, 57, 61 161-162
Music 38, 3 9 - 4 0, 102-104, 115, 367, 393 74-77, 80-90 see also Psalmist
Musical Instruments 313, 393 84 Ritual Masses 347, 359, 372, 377 90
Rogation Days 373, 394
Offertory
see Preparation of Gifts Sacristan 105 49
Opening Prayer see also Preparation of Place of Worship
see Collect Sanctuary 295 95
Orders, Holy 4, 92-94 33-39 Sanctus 37, 79, 148 192
see also Bishop; Deacon; Priest Scripture, Sacred 29, 55 69-70
Organ see also Homily; Lectionary for Mass;
see Musical Instruments Liturgy of The Word
Sequences 64 163
Participation Servers 100 47
act of whole person 18 54-55 see also Acolyte, Ministers, Liturgical
aim of liturgical reform 5 Sign of Peace 82, 154, 181, 239, 266 202-204
and word of God 56, 359 70, 91, 153 Silence 45, 56 91-92
arrangement of churches should facilitate 288, 294, 311 93-94 Singing
communion 13-14, 85, 282 206, 209
see Music
Eucharistic celebrations 5, 16-20, 31, 35-36, 91, 24, 26, 28, 43, 54, Solemn Blessing 90, 167, 185 224
95-96, 112, 140, 352 78, 94, 126-127 Solemnity 353, 357
right and duty 5, 18, 396 24 see also Calendar; Choice of Mass Texts;
singing 39-41, 103 24, 43, 76, 80 Liturgy Preparation
Vernacular 12 Statues
Participation Aids 126 see Images
Paschal Candle 116 Sunday Mass 40, 66, 113, 115, 119, 357 21, 130
Paschal Mystery 2, 5, 17, 79, 368 1-17, 103, 194-195, 217
Symbols 5, 20, 294, 298, 321 52-53, 54-126
Paten 118, 327-329, 331-333 108-109
see also Vessels, Sacred Tabernacle
Penitential Act 36, 51, 125, 258 144-145 see Reservation of Blessed Sacrament
see also Kyrie Thurible
Postures see Incensation
see Gestures and Postures
Prayer after Communion 30, 89, 165, 271 72, 216 Ushers 105 48
Prayer of the Faithful 36, 69-71, 94, 171-173 Veneration, Signs of 273-276 62-65
99, 138, 177, 264 Vernacular Language 13, 391-392
Prayer over the Offerings 30, 77, 146 72, 185 Vessels, Sacred 327-334 106, 108-110
Prayer over People 90, 167, 185 223 Vestments, Sacred 119, 209, 335-347 111-112
Preparation of Place of Worship 105, 117-119 49-50 Votive Masses 375 137
Preparation of the Gifts 73-76, 139-146, 178, 214 175-185 see also Choice of Mass Texts
see also Bread, Wine
Presidential Prayers 30-32, 363 72 Weekdays 354, 355, 363 134
see also individual prayers see also Calendar, Liturgy Preparation
Priest 4, 11, 30-33, 72, 93, 282, 385 26, 29-32, 36-37 Wine 319, 322, 323 107
liturgical catechesis 11, 282 26 see also Holy Communion
planning of funerals 385 Year, Liturgical
Private Prayers 33 79 see Calendar, Liturgy Preparation
Processions 44 56
Communion 85-87, 160 209-213
entrance 47-48, 120-121, 172, 210, 256 140-141
Gospel 133 165-166
Presentation of Gifts 73-74, 144, 178 179-180
Profession of Faith 36, 67-68, 137 170
Progressive Solemnity 130-132
Psalmist 102 43
Psalms 48, 87-88 77, 140, 213
see also Psalmist; Responsorial Psalm
Purification 278-280 214
 117

Related Publications

‘General Instruction of the Roman Missal’, Congregation for Divine Worship.

Published 2005 by the Catholic Truth Society. ISBN 1 86082 288 6; (104 pages).

‘With Hearts & Minds - Reflections on our participation in the Mass’, Liturgy Office;
2005, published by CTS,

• Participant’s Book, ISBN 1 86082 307 6; (88 pages).

• Leader’s Book, ISBN 1 86082 306 8; (116 pages).